Love

Here is one my favorite of the Obamaicons I have made. Thanks to my sister Meg, who worked very hard to help get our new president elected, for turning me on to this fun website! Check it out if you have some time…

Though it took me awhile to warm up to Barack Obama (as some of you may know I worked for and supported Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primary), I do believe that he is the real deal and was very moved watching his inauguration today and all of festivities surrounding it.

One of the lines from President Obama’s address today that really touched me was “choose hope over fear…” I found this sentiment very inspiring after all me and my family has been through over the past four + years (which ironically is the length of our last president’s second term), struggling with secondary infertility, pregnancy loss and the death of our baby girl Molly.

Anyway, I hope that you and your loved ones, whatever your political persuasion, found some hope, pride and joy in witnessing the historic events that took place in our great county today.

Today is also a very special day as it is my father’s birthday. Happy birthday Dad! 🙂

Lastly, after much speculation and anticipation, it was fun to finally see our new first lady Michelle Obama’s beautiful white inaugural ball gown tonight! 🙂

I leave you with the transcript to the inaugural poem “Praise Song for the Day” written and recited by Elizabeth Alexander. I had to pull myself away from the TV after watching President Obama take the oath of office this morning, as it was time to pick Sean up from preschool. As soon as I got into our minivan I was able to find the ceremony on the radio. As I waited in the pick up line at Sean’s preschool I heard Ms. Alexander say these awesome words and by the time it was my turn to get out to help my son into our car I was on the brink of tears:

Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others’ eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, “Take out your pencils. Begin.”

We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, “I need to see what’s on the other side; I know there’s something better down the road.”

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign;

The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp — praise song for walking forward in that light.