of course there's going to be an inauguration post
fanTAStic two days. how could they not be? I spent three hours yesterday walking through the woods in the snow, watching foxes and deer slip away from the sound of my approach, and the light change from gray to white to gold, blue and pink as the sun set. I watched the river rush and tumble in some places, and freeze so solid I could walk on it in some places. I watched it turn from blue-black to gold in the last light. and that is all the happiness I need.
then I caught swing dancing, a much-needed talk with a friend, and no more than two hours of sleep before heading to the Senator to watch Obama and Biden take their oaths with 900 people who are thrilled to see it happen - standing room only, bands playing, people giving standing ovations, yelling and crying. I keep tearing up. damn, am I happy and proud.
we have had such bleak times. we have grown apathetic, and then we have grown afraid, in so many ways. so much has ended, and so much is ending, and so much is yet to be decided and understood. and, despite that, I was lucky enough to spend the morning surrounded by pure, unbounded hope. it is so clear to me that we all feel the enormity of this election and rest our hopes on the promise that maybe, with work, maybe the promise of a shifting attitude and a return to our ideals can be fulfilled, and it can save us in so many ways.
and I can understand why people feel that way. for the first time in my life, I feel that this president is my president. he is a man who embodies my spirit and my ideals, and more than I am able to be. he is more than a role model: he is smart, progressive and willing to listen and to open his mind. I have been cynical about the capacity and willingness of my generation to actually create change; but I do believe we can rise to this if we feel so connected to our president and to our government - for so many of us, for the first time.
so if you missed Obama's speech, be sure to check it out.
then I caught swing dancing, a much-needed talk with a friend, and no more than two hours of sleep before heading to the Senator to watch Obama and Biden take their oaths with 900 people who are thrilled to see it happen - standing room only, bands playing, people giving standing ovations, yelling and crying. I keep tearing up. damn, am I happy and proud.
we have had such bleak times. we have grown apathetic, and then we have grown afraid, in so many ways. so much has ended, and so much is ending, and so much is yet to be decided and understood. and, despite that, I was lucky enough to spend the morning surrounded by pure, unbounded hope. it is so clear to me that we all feel the enormity of this election and rest our hopes on the promise that maybe, with work, maybe the promise of a shifting attitude and a return to our ideals can be fulfilled, and it can save us in so many ways.
and I can understand why people feel that way. for the first time in my life, I feel that this president is my president. he is a man who embodies my spirit and my ideals, and more than I am able to be. he is more than a role model: he is smart, progressive and willing to listen and to open his mind. I have been cynical about the capacity and willingness of my generation to actually create change; but I do believe we can rise to this if we feel so connected to our president and to our government - for so many of us, for the first time.
so if you missed Obama's speech, be sure to check it out.