Obama-rama Inauguration Sensation

Progress. Change. Hope.

I figure that any blogger worth his or her webspace should be blogging about the monumental occasion that is currently occurring: the inauguration of America's first African American President. So, I will join the flurry of posts. Thanks for reading. :)

This morning was like Christmas morning! I woke up early to turn on my television and computer (one source is not enough, must watch NBC, CNN, and check NPR!) and finished some homework while newscasters chatted about the new First Family and their comings and goings--apparently they were already late. Who can blame them? It's been a long few days for them already and it has only begun. My husband, Edward, was still sleeping and by 9:00am I just couldn't take it any longer. I jumped onto the bed and whisper-shouted: "Edward wake up! It's BarackObamaInaugurationDay!" I was so excited that it all came out as one word.

I have never been very interested in politics, but it's safe to say that I have caught the Obama-mania. His poise and personality enthrall me, and his politics intrigues me. He has managed to excite most of the nation in a relatively short amount of time (that is quite a feat considering the size and strength of our apathetic generation). We're starting to feel like united states and it thrills me. Young and old, black and white, men and women, rich and poor all feel that they again have a voice in Washington.

This inauguration day has not been as emotional for me as election day--when the final vote was counted that night I sat on my living room couch sobbing with delight. When Obama was sworn in this morning I, of course, shed a few tears, as is my tendency (my dear friend Hailey calls me "a crier," not in the town crier sense, but the heart-on-the-sleeve-sense. It's pretty true.)

I am just in awe of what this means for our nation. We have a new start. We are filled with hope again and there is a sense of promise on the horizon--it takes a gifted leader to empower so many people in these war-torn, lean economic times. For once I'm feeling quite patriotic! I haven't felt this way since I rode my tricycle in our neighborhood 4th of July parade singing "Proud to be an American" at the top of my little toddler lungs.

Barack admitted in his Inaugural Address that we face many difficult problems--there's no denying that--however, I'm starting to believe that we will not only get through them, but come out stronger on the other side. I can't wait to see what happens next.