Inauguration Day

All inauguration days are historical events and remembered for many reasons. It is amazing that for over 200 years and for 43 times, our country has changed leaders peacefully. To be honest, most of them came and went for me with only a passing interest of someone who does follow news and history closely.

One that does stands out for me is the Kennedy inauguration (Jan. 1961). I was in sixth grade, and it would have been a time before class rooms had TV's. I'm sure over the years the repeated images have been replayed so often that it's hard to recall specifically what were impressions of a 6th grader and which were formed later.
I remember thinking it was cool that Robert Frost, a poet we studied in school was reading one of his poems. I thought that Kennedy wearing a top hat was strange and very old fashioned. It was so obvious it was cold, seeing the speakers' breath.

But I realized, partially then and more so over the next years or so, that the real significance was the youth of JFK. He was of a new generation; he was the first president born in the 20th century. For adults he was "one of them".

For me Obama's inauguration is significant for the same reasons. Surely the fact that he is bi-racial is remarkable given the history of this country. But for me the significance is that he does represent a new generation. He is the first president born in the last half of the 20th century. Born 1961. He is not a "baby-boomer".
My generation, to date, has provided two presidents: Clinton and George W. Both brought strengths to the office and great shame. I doubt that either will have many elementary schools named after them.

But Obama offers a hope that maybe the next generation of leaders will be better than my generation of leaders. Both set a pretty low bar, so it shouldn't be hard for him to be better. Given the times, he will need to be much better.

A Beginning

If I had been asked as I was growing up, what I wanted to be when I grew up, and, I had answered honestly, I would have said "A writer". Although I chose a field where writing was a skill set that was useful and, at times, essential; to say I was a writer would be inaccurate.

After much thought and for many reasons, I have decided to begin a blog. What few blogs I have followed, I have usually found them of varied and limited interest and value; and I'm sure my blog will fit into that larger category of blogs. But what I suspect is that the writing I will do here will benefit me far more than it will anyone reading it.

On the bulletin board above my computer one of the poems that I re-read often is a translated poem by a Greek poet, Konstaninos Petrou (1863-1933):
"Ithaca"
As you set out for Ithaca,
Wish for a long journey
Filled with adventures, knowledge.
Don't be afraid that
Bad things will happen:
If you keep your mind and feelings full
No evil will fit into your heart
Nor sneak up to spook you.
Wish for a long journey,
For many summer mornings;
Imagine the joy and pleasure
Of entering new harbors for the first time!
Stop at exotic markets,
Find good things:
Pearls, coral, amber, ebony,
Sensuous fragrances.
You can take your fill
At these far-off cities,
And learn from wise ones too.
And keep Ithaca always in mind.
It's your destination,
But don't rush the journey in the least.
Better for it to take a long time
So that, finally, in spite of the accrued years,
You will cast anchor fresh with all the journey's riches
You not require any of Ithaca's.
For Ithaca gave you the journey.
Without Ithaca you would not have set out.
It has nothing else to give.
If you find it empty, you haven't been tricked.
You've become wise with experience
And you already have what Ithaca means.

You are being invited to glimpse at my personal "journey to Ithaca" of which this blog is part.
Feel free to ask not to be included in future postings and I'll have no regrets. As I said before, my writings will surely benefit me more than you.