inaugural address

          

Through a stroke of great luck, I was able to watch the inauguration with Grandma and Aunt Ann this morning. I don't know who Grandma voted for in November, but today she was very supportive towards this new, inspiring president of ours, his accomplished, gracious wife and their two beautiful girls. We sat together, watching the ceremony and listening carefully to Mr. Obama's address. 

During a break in the action, the talk turned to memories of past inaugurations. Aunt Ann has fond memories of Eisenhower's 1953 inauguration  --it was the first time she watched TV. A neighbor was the first and only one around with a television that year, so all the school kids trooped over to see the president take his oath. Ann, who was in 2nd grade at the time, recalls being more excited about the TV than about the actual inauguration. Grandma remembers hearing other inaugural addresses on the radio. It was agreed that the most momentous and memorable was the 1961 swearing in of John. F. Kennedy. Until today, that is. This one really is a biggie.

We celebrated Grandma's 90th birthday this year. Today she told me this is the last inauguration she will see. While we may have to argue about that prediction, this sure was a very, very good inauguration to witness. I couldn't have picked a better person to be with on this unforgettable day.