The older I get, the more I say: "In my lifetime, I wonder if I'll see."

I often focus on the things that seem impossible, such as women priests in the Roman Catholic faith tradition.In 1982, when I was a journalism fellow working in Congress through the American Political Science Association, I wondered if I'd ever see very many women in Congress, especially the U.S. Senate, where there were just two in 1982 -- Nancy Landon Kassebaum of Kansas and Paula Hawkins of Florida.

And so it was with wonder and gratitude I learned election day that as of January, 20 women will serve in the U.S. Senate.

Wow. And now I wonder, in my lifetime, will I ever see a woman president?

Stay tuned.

(S-R file photo of Washington state's two long-time U.S. Senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell)

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