Very Big Day

No pictures today but I feel like I need to make some kind of comment. 

B is sick, so we have been sitting on the couch watching the inauguration. I am not happy that he is sick, but if we'd kept to our normal schedule, I would have been in the car during the swearing in and speech. G sat on my lap clapping and B kept asking questions.

"When will he be President?"

"Is that Michelle?" 

"Why is it taking so long?" 

"Are THEY President yet?" 

I was laughing that Tom Brokaw pointed out the Princeton colors of Coach Robinson's scarf. Those of you not on the West Coast may not realize that the First Lady's brother is the head basketball coach for Oregon State and their colors are orange and black. My folks both went to OSU, along with both of my sisters, so I chuckled a bit at the mistake. (He did make an apology later, but not until much later.) 

The feeling that we can change our world,  that we have a responsibility to change our world, that we WILL change our world, is one I appreciate.  Like many, I am not sure how I will execute this duty, but I am open to it and look forward to the challenge. For now, I will try to raise two responsible, healthy, happy, respectful citizens. This minute, I will continue to play referee while the kids fight...I mean play....in the next room.  

Yes We Can

When I was in high school, our beloved school Principal was rumored to be retiring at the end of my junior year. We were pretty upset, to think that such a big change would come, in our opinion, one year early. Well, for reasons I don't know, Mr. Pickens decided to stick it out with us and retire after we graduated. At a pep rally that fall, right around this time of year, our high school football team was set to play the #1 ranked team, not just in our league, but in the state. Our football team was not, by any stretch of the imagination, expected to be a contender. In fact, up to that season, our school had NEVER beaten this particular opponent. So, up to the microphone walks Mr. Pickens. He begins to give a speech about being an underdog. Determination. Drive. Believe in yourself and you can move mountains, etc. He started chanting, "yes we can. Yes We Can. YES WE CAN!"  Of course, I wouldn't be recounting the story if we hadn't beaten them that night. After the big win, our class took ahold of the motto. We carried it with us for the entire year. We made sure we had signs with it in all of  our group photos. Mentioned in our commencement speech. But it was because of that moment of inspiration that tonight's acceptance speech meant just a little bit more to me. I felt it. I am inspired. For the first time in too long. I remember this feeling. HOPE.