The Brave New World

We witnessed history yesterday. I flipped the TV on at 4:00am to watch the early inauguration coverage. I saw the beautiful Michelle Obama in her lovely shade of yellow walking with her handsome husband on their way to the prayer service. Then the cameras panned on the sea of people. The visual was unbelievable. Almost two million people there to witness history. Madelyn was home from school sick and and I insisted that we watch the inauguration together. Grandma left the room in a huff. She still holds firm that President Obama (or Boom -Boom as she calls him) has no legal US birth certificate, lied about bringing home the troops and is a thief...but it's not at all about being "black".

Okay. She's 76 years old. Her generation couldn't have been wrong. She's a lifetime, die-hard Republican. I, too, am a card carrying member of the Republican party. However, she absolutely REFUSED to watch any coverage of the inauguration during the day. Matt, Madelyn and I witnessed the historic event, saw the beautiful girls, Sasha and Melia in their J Crew coats, Grandma Robinson, (Michelle's Mom) and Dr. Biden in her CFM red boots. It was my version of the moon landing with my two younger "children". I went to the dog park with the boys later that day and people were talking about the historic day--most everyone was in good spirits, ready for the change. I must say that the pains in my chest from months earlier when the banks were crashing and the CEOs were raiding Wall Street were replaced with feelings of hope for the first time in months.



Don't get me wrong. I believe the Greatest Generation is dying. I acknowledge, quite sadly, that world is a mess. America was once a super power and is now slipping far behind. We've got a lot of work to do within our infrastructure. I believe a new beginning can only help. Today, I found myself picking up at the dog park (why not? It starts with me, right?) It seemed like people were a little nicer and felt a little lighter load. I came out of a parking place in Kmart going the wrong direction and when another driver came toward me, I put my hands together begging forgiveness and he smiled and waived. Usually people are ready to slam into me like Kathy Bates in "Fried Green Tomatoes". When I pulled into Lucky's and found a premium parking place right by the front door. Now, I know the President didn't sign legislation for me to park at the front door, but the world outside seemed a little nicer, better, newer.

Throughout my day, those I met were friendlier--except for Grandma who pouted in her bedroom all day. She vows that "Boom Boom" is a lire and a thief and she "ain't gonna watch any of this nonsense". So we'd lure her from her room with the promise of the "Ellen DeGeneris Show" then someone (Dave) would come home and change the channel back to Obomaram. She slammed her cane on the ground and with a big sigh, back to the room she'd go. She was PISSED. But it got me to thinking...of my parents and how pissed they'd be. Well, I for one was glad to see the village idiot leave the white house. It was none to late.

The light rainfall today gave everything a nice wash. It made everything look anew. Great metaphor for the new days to come in Washington. We'll make it. We just can't have everything NOW! We'll have to take a few lessons from that Greatest Generation. Patients.