Wow, I'm actually hopeful!

I don't want this to become any sort of political blog, but . . . just . . . wow. Considering I'm 52 years old, this is the 13th or 14th inauguration I've lived through. BUT, this is the first time I've actually watched it on TV FOR 12 SOLID HOURS! I was very moved at several points:

• When the camera would zoom in on elderly African Americans, crying.
• When the camera would zoom out and show the millions of people cramming the mall.
• The sheer number of people who went to great lengths to be there, no matter what.
• The beautiful little Obama girls, and what they must be thinking.
• Watching Bush get on the helicopter and wave bye-bye.

Things that made me laugh:

• Rolling Dick Cheney around in a wheel chair. I wonder how tempting it was to just "lose control" of the chair at the top of the stairs.
• Aretha Franklin's hat.
• Chief Justice Roberts choking on the oath.
• Reverend Lowery's benediction.

There was entirely too much praying for my taste, however.

I must say, though, that I'm a little apprehensive about how much he has on his plate, and how the right-wingers will blast him for every delay or failure, no matter how slight.

Well, enough of that. I just felt a need to put something down about this momentous day.