Today marks a new chapter in the history of our nation… and regardless of your politics or what way you voted, today is evidence of our democracy at work.

Now, I pretty much never ever blog politics here, and I am certainly not of the "thank goodness Bush is gone" camp… nevertheless, I just couldn’t let today pass with out a post that says, "I’m proud to be part of this day in history."  I’m proud of this day when race isn’t a limit on ones future.  I’m proud to be part of this nation where we choose freely our leaders, and we celebrate genuinely as our leader takes office.

I listened carefully to the presidential inauguration on the radio this morning as I drove Gareth to school and ran a few errands around town.  When I heard that the inaugural committee had asked citizens to take a photograph of how we experienced this historic inauguration I was excited about the opportunity to capture this moment for myself! I grabbed my camera out of my purse and snapped this shot at my very next stop (photo 365, check!) .

I was moved as I heard the opening prayer, as I listened to the performances,  and as I witnessed our new leaders pledge their service to our nation.  I was so touched as I heard our new president speak of the parts we all play ("…but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate." hehehe thats me!), I felt part of a whole nation, and I was moved.  So moved in fact that I think the girl at the Starbucks drive through was worried for me!  These things always make me cry!

I did vote Obama, and today reminded me again why.  He is a person who speaks to me, he isn’t so out of touch with my generation that I end up with no voice in the government.  One huge example, he believes in and use the Internet (and you know what, so do I!),  the white house now even has a blog! Times are changing, they have been for quite sometime, and I think it is a good thing to have a president that understands those changes… and he is definitely something new, and I think that is good for our nation as a whole.

I know I sound a bit idealistic here, but I do realize that really every leader we have and ever will have, is just a human being, just one person that really can’t do much with out the other arms of the government.  Probably why I don’t have a lot of negative feelings for any of our previous presidents, and also why I don’t think that the whole world is going to change tomorrow just because our nation has a new leader.  But I guess what today reminded me, is that I do believe that it is an amazing thing to be part of democracy where we choose our leaders, and we are free to celebrate (or mourn if you chose) a new leader genuinely. 

I’m excited about the future, a new chapter begins, and I for one am proud.