Anticipation

So I live in the nation's capital and as you can imagine, with less than 7 days to go until the new President is sworn in, the city is a buzz with anticipation. Its a little crazy actually because its as if Washington, DC is preparing for its messiah to arrive. His every move is being captured by the media and people are already expecting statehood to be around the corner. If it all seems a little over the top, it really isn't. This city has been waiting for this moment for a long time...I have been waiting for this moment for a long time.....I think the U.S. has been waiting for this....the world has been waiting....

For those that were here on election night, it really was one of the few times our generation was able to have a positive - "Where were you when...." moment. What an amazing, unbelievable night to watch a man named "Barack Hussein Obama" elected as our President. The streets came alive, and for just a moment, I felt like we had a sense of identity - of unity - that I had never felt before. The high continued for a few days and eventually wore off....until this week...when people are again charged with excitement and anticipation.

Yet, why are so many of us choosing to spend the day at home to watch this historic moment from the comfort of our living rooms - when we live just footsteps from the action? Trust me, I considered it seriously as well - I am from Florida and we just don't do cold weather...and people, let me tell ya - it is bone chillin cold here these days....ok, maybe thats a slight exaggeration...but its cold. Yes, the city has made it next to impossible for anyone to easily enter or move about except by foot. But I think there's something so momentous about this. How amazing that 1 million people are expected to attend an event in the freezing weather, by walking or metro, to watch one man sworn into office? I feel like this will be one of those moments that we will remember for the rest of our lives (not just because we lost all sensation in our feet and fingers while surrounded by 999,999,999 strangers) but because we witnessed history being made.....when the son of a goat farmer from Kenya, raised by his single mother and grandparents partly in Hawaii, with a brief stint in Indonesia, becomes the President of the U.S.

If ever I had hope in the betterment of our country, of our world - it is now. Not just because of Obama...but because of the energy of people...its like we are all feeling alive again and remembering that things DONT have to be the way are. That maybe, just maybe, its not wrong to think that we can make things a little better.....allow children to have health care, require accountability from our leaders, and hopefully be a part of the process.

Next Tuesday will be the culmination of weeks of anticipation for DC residents. Many have been preparing for months or years, whether it be through campaigning, fundraising, or simply politicking (a common way to spend time in our oh-so-exciting nation's capital). But I hope we don't lose sight of the bigger picture among all the inaugural balls, concerts, and parties. Yes, of course, its a time to celebrate - "Yes we did" as the saying goes. But lets not forget.....nothing has happened just yet to actually to "change" a thing. I hope we are able to channel all the positive energy and excitement and anticipation into real action. Because that will be the real challenge...and I don't think the burden should just fall upon the new adminstration or the new leaders in Congres.....its up to us to hold them to their promises and help them bring about change.