New Hope...taking back our country. And the dress and the heels.

It was an inauguration to remember for sure. I don't think I have ever seen so many people in one place. Almost 2 million is the estimate.

I feel really proud to be an American again.

I love watching those two, Michelle and Barack together. They are truly in love and it shows.

Just one thing...when they got out of that fortress of a car to walk down the street to their new home, the White House, I could not help but notice Michelle walking all that way in heels.

Then when she was in her frothy white dress for the 11 balls they went to she was beautiful. But when they danced together I noticed her constantly having to adjust her train and he almost stepping on it. It looked very princessy when she was standing still or walking in one direction but her designer should have considered that she would be walking down stairs and dancing at 11 balls.

Inauguration Day 2009 - The Excitement Builds

WASHINGTON -- Under the gaze of Abraham Lincoln's statue, Bruce Springsteen and a red-robed gospel choir kicked off a spirited preinaugural concert Sunday before tens of thousands on the National Mall.
The crowd erupted in cheers when Obama and his wife, Michelle, arrived, walking down the steps of the memorial, and kept applauding for the high-energy Springsteen act and the performances that followed.
There was no red carpet, but the event had the feel of a Hollywood awards ceremony, with stars taking the stage to praise, serenade, and even impersonate the next president.
Performers including Bono, Beyonce and James Taylor were on the bill.
A crowd expected to reach up to a half-million was stretched past the reflecting pool separating the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
Obama and his wife and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, sat behind bullet-proof glass near the stage erected on the steps of the memorial.

The excitement mounts, the celebration has already begun. The 44th President of the United States of America is about to be inaugurated. We as a country are making history. Yes, that is a cliche phrase but it has never been more true than it is now. I am sure all of you have great expectations as I do for what this young bright black president will do for this country. He has already brought us more respect from other countries, Europe for one. I will be able to travel to Paris and London and not have to say I am Canadian.

I remember when JFK was elected president (one benefit to age is I have seen a whole heck of a lot of history made) and how excited I was to hear this idealistic very intelligent, handsome charismatic president speak. Clinton had some of that brilliance and charm. But President Barack Obama truly brings it all back to me. I have great hopes that he will make some seriously needed positive changes to bring this country out of the darkness it has fallen into and help us to heal. We must all be patient. And patience is not one of my best qualities. As much as I wanted this to happen in my lifetime I could not dream that it would truly happen. It did and although it may be too late to help me much it will make a better world for my grandchildren who will definitely benefit from it and who will also pay for it.

I will be glued to my TV on Tuesday watching this momentous occasion with a box of kleenex at my side.

Advocating for us Old Folks

First of all I never thought I would become “disabled.” Until a few years ago I had always pictured myself working until I was at least 66 and maybe 70, but that my retirement would be on my own terms, not forced upon me. I thought I would work at the job I had held for 8 years for many more years. Not so. My inability to be at work early and stay an 8 hour day probably had something to do with them forcing me out, aka firing me. It wasn’t the reason they gave of course. That would have been illegal. I did get my job done each day, either in my office or at home. I was very good at my job.

But now I am unable to work an 8 hour day or to promise to be there at a certain time each day and stay a certain number of hours per day. I applied for disability and it was a rather intensive grueling procedure. I was approved. No, I didn’t have to fight a denial which I was expecting to have to do. I guess that says I am more disabled even than I thought?

Some days I feel like I could work. Usually after about 11am. But not every day. Maybe I could find a job doing something at home, but I would not be 100% everyday. And it would mean losing my disability.

Oh, and did you know that although I am considered disabled due to health issues that require not only monitoring by doctors but prescription drugs to treat these issues, I have to wait 24 months to get medical help at all. Until then I have to pay for it myself out of a tiny fixed income. Luckily I turn 65 in September of this year so I will be on Medicare then. But for the next nine months I will have no help with my medical bills or my prescriptions. DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE TO YOU?

And what happens to those who have no son to stay with until disability and housing comes through?

Something needs to change with this. I can’t imagine why someone has not advocated for this sooner and if they have why it has not been done. I guess I have to be that person.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!....how did you get so old?

My son Mark whom I am living with temporarily had his 46th birthday today.

Yes, you heard right....FORTY SIX. I can hardly believe that I have a son that age.

Believe me when I tell you that you don't feel any different in your mind about

yourself when you are 60 than when you were 25. I mean of course you acquire

wisdom and make better choices for yourself and change your opinions about

things but the essence of who you are does not feel old or young, it just feels

like you. It is hard to explain. I remember when my grandmother was alive

and she was 90 something I asked her if she felt different inside. She said no.