A New Day

I was there. I was there with Jack Pappas. I am uncertain that I could have done it alone. A battle was waged on all fronts. I fought the battle at every front. Jack fought beside me. We fought the battle individually and we fought the battle together. We overcame to see a new day. Encouragement, optimism, perserverence and hope saw us through. Like a Hemingway novel, our core was tested to survive. Man versus nature, man versus man, man versus himself. The battle was waged. Bitter cold with no reprieve. A sea of people with no shore in sight. The frailty of my own human flesh and uncertain spirit. I stood aside Jack and shoulder to shoulder with every person who hoped for change, progress and redemption. The sun shone on a new day. And I was there.

Living on a prayer . . .

In DC for the Inauguration of Barack Obama. So I'm hanging out at the Smithsonian, National Portrait Gallery and I run into Jon Bonjovi. It was all very strange actually. I had been abandoned by my patriotic, military docent (not an art major) after 2 guys in the group lost interest in the bad (military, not artististic) spiel. (There were only 3 of us total). I just finished a sandwich and a beer and saw a group gathering with a Smithsonian Staff Member. So I walk up to the group thinking I can glomb onto the group with a new and better docent. I ask the big unhappy guy (pictured right) if I this is a docent group. He says no. Then I realize I'm with the Bonjovi family. He says split. I say fine. I daringly strike up a conversation with Bonjovi's kid because he's wearing a Notre Dame coat. I tell him I went to Notre Dame. He wants to go there. I ask him if his dad is performing for the inauguration. He says yes. Do you like Charlie Weis? Yes, very much. I say, I think Charlie is going to turn it around next year. Then I ask, do you want to go to Notre Dame? I hope so, he replies. I tell him that's great.

Anyway, I surreptiously snapped this photo of JBJV looking very impressed with what his docent tells him (not pictured). I'm so jealous. Good docents are so hard to find.

So this post has multiple good connections. Charlie Weis, Barack Obama, Bonjovi's kid, decent docents. You get my drift.

More on the Inaugural weekend coming soon.

Audacity of Hope

I just finished the Barack Obama book, The Audacity of Hope. I consumed it as an audiobook. I think that still counts. I really liked it. One of the fundamental points that he makes is that we are more alike than different. From that proposition, he says our shared values, dreams and concern about the future of our country can be the common ground from which we accomplish great things for our country. While the book had a lot of policy, he made it personal. I was moved by the stories of his family and the joys and struggles that they share, like many Americans. I also found it enlightening the way American politics boxes you in and creates division and polarization. While facing that reality, Barack doesn't want to be contained by it, nor does he want to promote such simplistic, yet divisive approaches. The cynicism created by these politics only serves to turn people off from getting involved in the process.

I recommend this book.

Cousins

So the Mountfort clan came into town and some of the local tribemembers met them out on the town. It was good times, food drink and the whole range of attempts at humor. Yeah we sprinkled in some politics, theology and technology too. Just being connected through blood and reconnecting over a dinner felt good. Tim & Huilan told us they are moving to China. I think I'm going to make the road trip to see them when they're there. I don't know where they'll be specifically, but you can just ask when you get there. "Hey do you know Tim and Huilan Mountfort?" That'll work, right?

Jack & Emma

Jack & Emma looking lovely together. By the way, they weren't actually posing. This is a candid shot. They just stand around like this all the time. Nobody knows why.

Random thoughts

Welcome to my blog. From here, I will stay in touch with my family, friends and anyone else that finds the content interesting, funny or worth considering.

I will start blogging about my upcoming trip to D.C. to see the inauguration of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States. Stay tuned.