A Baby Boomer's Witness to History Part II

While standing in a LONG LINE to get on the Metro (train) following the Inauguration, a man behind me said, “I can’t believe I drove all the way from Michigan to see the Inauguration on a TV screen.” He then smiled and added, “But it was worth every minute of it. I’m glad I was here!”

I echo those sentiments as a 51-year-old baby boomer who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with millions of others on the National Mall to witness history in the making. The swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States was nothing short of spectacular.

It didn’t matter that it was freezing cold or that I had to walk several miles to get to a spot where all I could see was a Jumbotron. Being crammed into a small space with strangers didn’t seem to stress anyone out. Instead it gave us an opportunity to mingle, to laugh and to make some new friends.

I’m still in awe of how one man could inspire so many people from around the world to come to Washington, DC to celebrate the day.

There were people in wheelchairs----mothers pushing babies in strollers and fathers carrying young ones on their shoulders. There were those who dressed to impress with their stylish mink coats, fur hats and Obama gear—while others looked like they hadn’t slept in a few days. Two young women told me they drove 40 hours straight from California to be there. A family from Louisiana braved the freezing cold for six hours while waiting to hopefully get a good spot and glimpse of our new Commander-in-Chief.

It was all a sight to behold---a moment in time. I clearly understood what the First Lady was saying when she said “For the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback.” Of course, she was harshly criticized for her comments but for those of us who have felt disenfranchised---especially African American Baby Boomers----January 20 represented a day of reckoning.

Enjoy the slide show.

A Baby Boomer's Witness to History Part I

Over the next couple of days I will be blogging about my experience in Washington, DC as I witnessed history in the making with the swearing in of President Barack Hussein Obama. I hope you’ll be a frequent visitor to this blog and even share your own thoughts to the various posts or just offer a comment on your reaction to it all.

My daughter and I arrived in Garrisonville, VA on early Monday afternoon. My husband had made arrangements for us to stay with some of his friends. There was a house full of people upon our arrival. Some of the host’s family members decided to make the road trip from Atlanta, Louisiana and Texas.

It was obvious everyone wanted to be a part of this historic occasion.

After unloading the car, we got right back on the road and headed to DC for a day of sight-seeing. Initially, we thought we could park the car at the Metro Station in Springfield, VA and travel into the city but everybody else was obviously thinking the SAME thing. So my husband, being the smart man that he is, figured out a better Metro Station for us to go to and, sure enough, there was hardly anybody there. We joked about the scarcity of people due to the fact that it was in the “hood” and some tourists couldn’t begin to find it and probably wouldn’t dare go there if they did.

Our first stop was the National Mall where all of the festivities were going to be held. There were people EVERYWHERE and plenty of vendors selling all kinds of items. People were eager to buy anything that had Barack’s name on it. One vendor told me he sold 3000 shirts at $10 a piece in 48 hours. Not a bad hustle. Some people don’t make that in a year.

I decided I wanted to take pictures of people wearing Obama hats so I just stopped people at random and asked if I could take their pictures. I met folks from California, Jamaica, Ohio, Louisiana and even right in my own back yard of North Carolina.

Then we took pictures of the grandstand where all the big whigs would be gathered as well as.

Tomorrow, I’ll share the emotion of Inauguration Day from a baby boomer's perspective. Meanwhile, Enjoy the slide show.

What Obama's Inauguration Means to Me

My daughter and I will be among the millions who will endure the cold and the crowds to be a part of history on Tuesday, January 20. I am going, in part, to cover the event for my local radio station as their Chief Correspondent.

Even if I don’t get anywhere near the swearing-in ceremony or get a glimpse of our soon-to-be President, I still want to be there. I NEED to be there.

I will be perfectly honest. I never thought I’d live to see what is about to take place. Why? Because I am a baby boomer. I grew up during a period of segregation. Although I wasn’t raised in the segregated, lynching South, I was still subject to the “subtle discrimination” that existed in the rest of the country. It was still a “separate and unequal society.” Racism has been alive and well ever since I can remember.

Obama’s inauguration certainly won’t change race relations overnight but maybe it will start a much needed honest dialogue between the races. At the very least, he gives my grandson hope that “Yes, he can!”

What do you think? Do you see race relations improving as a result of Obama’s presidency? Do you think there’s a race problem in America?

US Airways Flight 3407

I was freaking out about having to fly in a snowstorm from Michigan to North Carolina on Wednesday evening. I was traveling on US Airways Flight # 3407. Ultimately, I made it home safely.

Less than 24 hours later, I learned that another group of US Airways passengers on Flight 1549 were also headed to NC (from NY) but their circumstances were dramatically different. A flock of geese could've taken 155 lives but, instead, it ended up being a miracle on the Hudson River.

What a testimony of God's goodness! I can't help thinking I could've been on that flight had the airline canceled our flight. We were delayed by two hours with the weather getting progressively worse but we made it.

You just never know how close you can come on a daily basis to it being your last day. That's why its so important to live each day the very best you can by being an inspiration to someone else.

I hope this blog post has inspired you.

Me and My Computer

The house is quiet once again.

Today, I took my daughter back to college for her second semester. Hubby is back in the DC area where he works during the week. My grandson is off visiting other relatives—so it’s just me and my computer.

For the past three weeks our home has been filled with lots of laughter and love and, yes, even some arguments. But all in all, it’s been a blast having my husband and daughter home for more than a weekend. It has given us a chance to grow closer as a family.

But now the family is off doing their own thing once again, while it’s just me and my computer. Thank God for computers because this is my way to stay connected.

Do you stay in touch with your family via computer and if so, how often?

What Will Sarah Palin Teach Her New Grandson?

After watching Sarah Palin during her bid to become the first female Vice President of the United States, I am wondering what kind of environment her new, little grandson will grow up in.

Here was a woman who was a staunch opponent of abortion. In 2006, when she was running for Governor of Alaska, Palin declared that she would not support an abortion for her own daughter even if she had been raped. (source: Huffington Post) So she went before the world embracing her teenage daughter's pregnancy. She also praised the young father for standing by her daughter. This is the same young man who referred to himself as a f------- redneck on his MySpace page with a mother who is facing six felony drug charges.

During the Presidential campaign, The Alaska Governor was mighty proud to also call herself a redneck and failed to reach out to any other segment of the voting population beyond the rural, white southern conservatives.

I won't even go into how she looked as a politician when questioned about foreign policy experience or the shopping sprees she went on with her family to look good for the cameras.

No, this is about Sarah Palin as a grandmother---a grandmother just like me. You see, Gov. Palin and I share something in common. Both of our daughters became teenage mothers and I believe we both want the best for them. But now that she has a little grandson to help nurture, what will she teach him? Will little Tripp see a world that is diverse with wonderful opportunities for everyone? Or will he be proud to grow up as a f------redneck like his dad and grandma with a warped view of the world?

Bristol is still in high school with no announced plans for college. The baby's daddy dropped out of high school but is reportedly taking online courses to earn a certificate while holding down a job. My daughter, meanwhile, has completed her first semester of college and made the Dean's List. Her two-year-old son is growing up healthy and happy with grandparents who are determined to help him understand and appreciate the good in EVERYBODY---regardless of race, creed or color.

I'm a firm believer that children adopt behaviors early based on the attitudes of people in their immediate surroundings. So time will tell as to how little Tripp grows up and interacts with the world. I wish him well.

Alaska Governor Welcomes First Grandchild

Christmas Surprises

My daughter is full of surprises!

Christmas 2006: Her gift to me was a grandchild. Mind you, it wasn't something I asked for or wanted from my 16-year-old but she gave it to me anyway.

Christmas 2007: Her gift to me was an ATTITUDE. She was still upset over the fact that I was upset overher decision to keep her baby. I tried desperately to push adoption as the best alternative. She couldn't see that I was thinking of the best interest of the child of an unwed teen.

So here we are Christmas 2008. After spending a year of repairing our feelings of hurt and anger, my daughter decided to give me a series of gifts by making her MESS -- her MESSAGE.

1) She graduated from high school ON TIME. She pulled it off even after discovering five months before graduation that she was one Math credit short and had to re-arrange her whole schedule in order to make up the Math class. She did all of this while holding down a part-time job.

2) She was determined to go to college and did what was necessary to make it happen.

3) She potty trained her son. I told her if she expected me to keep him while she was away, I wasn't going to be changing dirty diapers. Jarod was potty trained at 18-months.

The best gift of all---

She made the Dean's List during her first semester at North Carolina A&T University.

There is a blessing in every storm.