Mrs. Murfreesboro: After an exciting day, ‘Nation in Crisis’ sobering words on The Murfreesboro Post

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Mrs. Murfreesboro: After an exciting day, ‘Nation in Crisis’ sobering words

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By: JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist

Posted: Sunday, January 25, 2009 8:30 am

Wasn't the inauguration exciting! One of my nieces went to a ball and stood 20 feet away from the Obamas. Such fun!

What interesting times in which we live.

Because I'm not a political writer, I don't feel qualified to comment on this week's inaugural festivities, but it's hard not to chat about them after having watched television all day long on Tuesday (and into the night).

The headlines in The New York Times Wednesday read: "Obama Takes Oath, and Nation in Crisis Enjoys the Moment." "Nation in Crisis" ... what sobering words. What a powerful statement. I know that times have been hard for everyone lately, but to see it headlined that way knocked my socks off.

All around us we see news of job layoffs, plant closings, home foreclosures and financial doom. Three of my five children (including my sons-in-law) have been directly affected by the crisis. Fortunately, all are still working, but their salaries and benefits have been greatly compromised.

Businesses are slashing prices to find customers, but those who might have money to spend, instead opt to save it; print media scrambles to find advertisers; banks scrape for customers and profits; and lines at the food banks are swelling.

Why shouldn't we hope for a new dawn and new day?

Some of the things that interested me most on Inauguration Day were these:

• How easily power transferred from one administration to the next.

• How peacefully 2 million people braved the cold and crowds without one police arrest in the District of Columbia.

• How lucky we are to watch history being made, up-close and personal, from our living rooms.

• How glad I am that I got to watch it on TV and not from the Washington Monument.

• But more than anything, I was intrigued by the fact that the Bushes left their home in the morning, and in the wee hours of the morning the Obamas crawled into presumably the same beds.

I kept thinking about how hard it must have been for the new First Family to pack up items from their household in Chicago and move them to D.C. Television reporters said that 93 White House employees would be unpacking the Obamas belongings and have them in place when they arrived later that night.

I don't think I'd want anyone unpacking MY underwear drawer or my sock drawer, do you? Michelle Obama probably didn't have to worry about packing up her kitchen utensils, but she did have to have her computer and office files shipped across the country. Wonder how that went? How in the world would one have time to get all that done with everything else they have going on?

And when they crawled in at 2:30 a.m. (or whenever), they were faced with new beds, new alarm clocks and people they'd never met standing just outside their door. Do you guess they checked squares on a menu noting what they'd like for breakfast and if they wanted to have it delivered or eat downstairs?

Watching the happenings Tuesday left me truly feeling like a new day is dawning in America. With all the calamity and uncertainty we have faced within recent years, it's hard not to embrace a little hope.

It's going to take more than one man and four years to us dig out of this hole, but from what I saw on TV Tuesday, I think we might be on the path.

'Til next week.

Tagged under VOICES

Member Opinions:

By: JM325 on 1/25/09
I may disagree with some of her husband's policies but I LOVED Michelle Obama's sunshine-y yellow dress and coat.

By: justdance on 1/26/09

We will be seeing a First Lady who has a "whole 'nother spin" on fashion. It will be interesting and fun to watch.