OBAMA! OBAMA!!

Are we happy, or what!! See the smile on my face :)) ! We are living through one of the most defining moments in our nation's history. I keep getting teary-eyed whenever I watch and re-watch bits and pieces of yesterday such as the one below.



Isn't it inspiring to see them like this? They seem so solid and so in love.

Barack is quite an orator, isn't he?

Beyonce is so beautiful. I saw the movie Cadillac Records (I highly recommend it) in which she plays Etta James, the original singer of 'At Last.' Beyonce played Etta so well; she's a terrific actress. (I feel about Beyonce the same as I feel about Dolly Parton - great voices but I prefer to see them on screen.)

When I went to vote in November, I took my 12-year-old daughter, Hannah, with me because I knew it would be a time in which she would want to have memories. When it was our turn to take our ballot to a standing table to fill in the 'bubbles' with our pen, I let Hannah do it. I wanted her to be able to say that she filled in the ballet bubbles for the first African American that was elected to the highest office of our land.

And, again, yesterday I took her out of school to watch the inauguration. They weren't going to officially broadcast it in her school; it was up to each individual teacher and I thought it was too great a moment to miss. I'm not sure what she will remember but I know she will at least take away the importance of the moment.

Even though I was only 4 1/2, I remember when John Kennedy was assassinated. I remember that my mother screamed at the television and then ran to her bed face down sobbing and sobbing. I have a memory of her hugging me but I'm not sure if that really happened or if it was something that I wanted to happen. Then I remember watching the events unfold on the television with her after she was able to leave her room.

If I had it to do over again, in hindsight, I would do things a bit differently as far as the months and months before the election. I would have attended as many cities and stops where both Obama and Clinton were speaking. I would have done everything to get close, to get an autograph, to pick up something that they dropped, to grab some 'thing' that would hold special meaning later on. This moment is only going to be a 'first' once. History was going to be made one way or another. And if it had been Hillary who won, all the pride and happiness I am feeling right now with the Obama win I would still be feeling with the first woman to be elected, probably a bit more personally.

I'm proud that I helped elect this man. I'm happy to see so many African Americans beaming and crying with joy. We broke down a barrier. I can't believe it has happened in my lifetime but I'm OH SO HAPPY it did!