A former Catholic, I no longer follow any particular religion, thus I do not necessarily believe in “afterlife.” However, there is nothing I’d like better then, when my life is over, to be greeted at the heavenly gates by key-keeper, St. Peter. And standing there I’d love to have him pat me on my shoulder and say, “Hey Ranell, welcome. Well done!"
***
I will miss the tactful, mature and compassionate husband and wife who have occupied the White House the past eight years. They are the epitome of class, refinement and dignity, all the while being sage, humorous, down-to-earth and if I’m to be fully honest, kinda cool (as in hip or modern.)
As a grandmother, I love that the Obamas brought Grandmother Marian Robinson to the White House to help stabilize the upbringing of Malia and Sasha, who were only 10 and 7, respectively, when they entered their new home. I can still recall, around that time, viewing a photo of Sasha grinning and you could see that her secondary central incisors had only recently replaced her primary teeth, just a little girl. The girls basically grew up in the White House. They leave now, eight years later, as intelligent, graceful, young women who were constant and exemplary models of decorum.
In a country that is smarting from the constant pull and tug of bifurcation the Obama family has remained steadfast. The First Couple are completely unaccepting of the vilifying hatred that is cast at them; heads held high, enabling their eyes to effortlessly see above and past the haters. They looked beyond, always with ease and self-assurance, a lesson in civility for all. I think I read this quote either in The New York Times or The New Yorker, "America may well be broken. The Obamas are not.”
Having moved from a diverse urban area to a mostly-caucasian rural area, I was naively unaware of the amount of racist hatred that remained in my country, the eyes of haters fixed on the pigmentation of President Obama’s skin thus rendering them unable to see practically anything else.
So, I say to our outgoing president: Mr. President Barack Obama, thank you for your shining example of courage, service and care. Your representation has made me a better human, as from you I learned lessons about the importance of prudent and continued communication even in the face of dogged obstruction and hostility. It’s been a privilege to be a citizen during your term, Mr. President.
My Dutiful Husband says, “Don’t worry, history will be kind to him.”
(And to sneak in a quote from a friend, the incoming President-Elect “is not fit to shine your shoes.” But I'm certain you'd caution me to move beyond such negative thoughts.)
***
"Well done Mr. President, First Lady, Malia and Sasha! Well done.”
 |
| Here's to long awaited victories! |
Kind Readers: Do not expect a post from me for the next couple of weeks. I will be in a state of some kind of, uh, um,… for lack of a better word, mourning.
 |
| I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 16 |
Lord, who may dwell on Your holy mountain? He who walks with integrity, doing what is righteous, speaking truth from the heart; Who does not slander with his tongue, does no harm to a friend, never defames a neighbor… -Psalm 15
