Like puppies in a pile, campaign signs for candidates I supported now lie in a heap in the corner of my garage. The 2009 election season has officially ended.

Some of us spent Tuesday night in candidates’ homes, huddled around computers, hitting the “refresh” button to get new updates. As usual, some were winners and some were not. Losers slapped their knees in frustration and vowed “never again,” but by the end of the evening, many were saying, “well maybe.” Winners fist pumped the air and celebrated.

News that Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York spent more than $85 million on his campaign makes one long for campaign finance reform, but most of us on the local level funded campaigns with small donations. We waved signs and wrote letters and now that it is over, we are in that wonderful lull between Halloween, Election Day and Thanksgiving, where we can wind down and live to fight another day.

I will always be grateful to live in a country where I can safely wave signs for candidates and set out on a sunny Saturday afternoon, knocking on doors and talking to voters without fear of retaliation.

Before we know it, the next election cycle will begin. By then we will be refreshed and ready to again face the challenges of supporting candidates of our choice.