A NEW DAY...EVERYWHERE!

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Got an email from Andrew overnight and was able to catch up with him finally by phone today to learn how he experienced Inauguration Day in Tanzania. Here's a "snippet" of his email:

"In Moshi for Obama and it was amazing! Watched the entire thing with 3 other volunteers, an American, a Canadian, Dutch, and a New Zealander. The power in the city only went out twice, but it was during some crucial moments like Biden's inauguration and the very end of Obama's speech. Nonetheless, was very happy to be an American and a volunteer in the UNITED STATES Peace Corps, something that I'm now comfortable adding onto my introductions. ;)"

When we talked today, he explained that the atmosphere was very joyous and crowds were large, but they had opted for a smaller canteen-type restaurant to dine in and watch the event...and that he was glad for the choice. He said that one of diners was a former PC volunteer from the 60's and related her experiences with the Civil Rights movement. Noting the various nationalities also in attendance, Andrew said the discussion post-inauguration regarding politics, world-impact, etc. was very interesting and engaging. He said they were glad they had opted out of one of the larger "bashes" that was occuring throughout Moshi for the more intimate setting.

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

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I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself

what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself

what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces of people going by

I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do

They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow

They'll learn much more than I'll never know

And I think to myself

what a wonderful world

Yes I think to myself

what a wonderful world.

It's late, I know, but I couldn't help but think that it's already Inauguration Day ~ January 20th ~ a very special day that many have been waiting to celebrate, not just here, but around the world.

I've been watching the news (yesterday, now, I suppose) and have been amazed, overwhelmed at the crowds and stories that are pouring forth out of our Capital....and learned tonight that a dear friend's daughter will be there tomorrow as well - a "young girl" last I saw her, now an adult ready to live history. I smile.

And Andrew ~ half a world away ~ texted, yes, texted me a few days ago to double check on the ceremony in "Tanzanian time" as he is planning a trip to Moshi - the closest city where he can try to watch everything on a television. No doubt there will be other PC volunteers with him ~ when I called him on election night, they were gathered in Moshi around a canteen TV, cheering in youthful exuberance at one moment, frustrated at the next when the "network" would cut to some "insignificant" bike race! LOL! Fortunately, his village and Moshi are very close to the Kenyan border and television, when he can find it, is following President-elect Obama (only need to use the "elect part" until noon today!) very closely! I will be calling Drew at some point during the activities to see if they have succeeded in securing a TV connection and to get his feedback on the Tanzania/Kenya response to today.

Ok...and now on a lighter note (and no getting mad and huffy with me....) - this is all in good fun, 'k? Found these on the Huffington Post blog and thought they were worth sharing for the day! Enjoy....or not!

First, a game to try as you say "goodbye" to our "outgoing" jCommander - in - Chief

Goodbye, Mr. Bush!

Secondly, a FUN video look at what LEGOLAND can do with the inaguaration...yes, LEGOLAND:

LegoLand Inauguration

O, what a night!

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Well, the "pundits" aren't quite ready to "call" it, but I will and yes, "O, what a night it is!" as we see the election of Barack Obama as our next President.

Hannah, who just returned from an election party held at school, has been following the entire election closely with me this year, and we do share pretty much the same viewpoints on most issues, including our readiness for change and delight with the election outcome. As I see her youth and enthusiasm, and reflect on the impact of the importance of this night to our country, I have "memory flashes" of other moments from my younger life ~ JFK's assassination (I was only 4 and could only fathom that my favorite cartoon show was being interrupted); the 1968 assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy - I was older then and more aware of what we were losing, what was at stake, yet not quite not old enough to completely take it all in; and then late in the evening of June 5, 1976, our high school choir (some of us just having graduated from high school) found ourselves standing near the Lincoln Memorial (in D.C. for a choir competition) and gave a short impromtu concert for a small crowd, ending with "Abraham, Martin, and John" ("has anybody here seen my old friend Abraham? can you tell me where he's gone? Freed a lot people, but it seems the good die young...") - an older woman in the crowd came up to our director afterwards with tears in her eyes and said, "Thank you, do you realize that today is the 8th anniversary of RFK's death?" Of course, none of us had, but again, we were called to reflect on where we were standing and who had gone before us.

Tonight is one of those "life" moments for all of us - not just here in the states - but across the world. We are embracing and celebrating a change, a new world that clearly moves us forward in a direction, though perhaps uncharted, can only be seen as positive, exciting, and historically shifting for all. Take a breath, breathe in and out, and remember where you are this night. O, what a night.