On January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama II will take office as he 44th President of the United States.

That day, the day after the Martin Luther King holiday, providence willing, Ron, my sister and I will be in the crowd for Inauguration Day. Hopefully we’ll be able to get close enough to see, through the tears.

It’s hard to choke back the tears now, because my mom and dad did not survive to see this day.

I’m emotionally drained. It still feels like a dream. Truth to tell, I’d long thought that the first African American, or American of African ancestry, to be elected president would be a Centrist Republican like Colin Powell or a woman like Condolezza Rice, had they not tied their fortunes to the Bush administration.

This is breathtaking.

I think I’m going to cry again.

download – Martin Luther King – \”I have a dream\” speech

If consciousness somehow endures beyond the pale, he must be joyful today.

I do wish my parents had lived long enough to see this day.