It's a good day. It happens to be EBetty's 44th Birthday. Yesterday she witnessed the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States. It was a long awaited early Birthday present, her 36th and 40th leaving a somewhat bitter taste in the mouth, that didn't have anything to do with aging. 44 feels audaciously young right now, even though Prez 44 says we "must put away childish things" and basically grow up. What a relief to have adults in charge again and the Yahoos scattered to the 4 winds, where they will end up in the dustbowl/bin of history. Change has come. And EBetty feels good. And the World breathes a collective sigh.
Birthday Highlights: Rev. Lowery, whose religion asks him to advance the cause of justice for all, no matter what color or creed. He is old, but he felt like a rock upon which a good chunk of the Obama presidency was built. Poetic, and as Colbert mentioned like the best "Dr. Suess" book evah! (Dr. Suess is a personal hero of EBetty.)
Birthday Lowlights: Rev. Rick Warren, who felt the personal need to witness to his version of Salvation rather than universal principles. He is much younger, but seemed very insecure in his faith, despite his "purpose-driven life."
Other highlights: Aretha's hat, sorry to say the voice is fading, but the Hat is Where it is At. Yo-Yo Ma's licks on the cello--a passionate joy to behold and listen to. Michelle's classy style. Sasha and Malia's ribbons and bows.
Forgivable faux pas: John Robert's administering the oath. It was his first time after all. He just needs to slow down and break it up into manageable pieces. He shouldn't have tried to have Obama say "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear." He should have broken it up: "I ,Barack Hussein Obama." "Do solemnly swear." Etc, etc, etc. Isn't that what other Justices have done? Those are the cadences that sound in EBetty's ear from her memory. Also, since it was his first time giving the oath, perhaps a note card would have been advisable, since I'm sure they were both nervous a teeny tiny bit.
Burning Question of the Day: Why do Presidents swear on Bibles and not the Constitution itself? The Lincoln Bible is nice (smallish compared with Biden's), but Presidents should swear on the Constitution, since that is the document that they are supposed to "preserve, protect and defend."
Lastly: EBetty's Birthday feels like a new birth of Freedom. "Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God Almighty, Free at Last!" The dark clouds of despair and chagrin are gone. The Aquarian Age has finally dawned!
Truly, the best birthday evah!
Peace.