Bush, Clinton, Bush...

In 1990, along with the rest of the members of my fourth grade class, I memorized the last names of all of the US Presidents. Beginning with "Washington, Adams, Jefferson", each morning we would add one or two surnames to our lexicon. And with each name, a few facts of their presidency was taught by Mrs. Kuzinierz. By year's end we could recite all 41 names from memory. But beyond being a testament to the quality of teacher that was Mrs. Kuzinierz, the ability to recall this list of names has proved to be useful in only two scenarios: boring college parties and Trivial Pursuit.  

I have only a few times even tried to put into words what the past year of campaigning for Barack Obama has meant to me; to attempt to verbalize what I have seen happen to my generation of Americans and what I have seen happen in my country. I have espoused hope and change, accessibility and honesty, intelligence and admiration. But I always felt that my true feelings of what this election and this moment really mean to me cannot be described by words.  

Then tonight, while listening to a report on Barack's past week in Washington, D.C., I found myself lost in thought when I heard the reporter effortlessly refer to him as 'Mr. Obama'. In my thoughts of him as President (which have occurred with regularity since late 2007), I rarely think of him as anything other than how he signs the emails or text messages he sends from his campaign: 'Barack'. This is in no way a sign of disrespect. What this represents is how he and this campaign have changed how I see my relevance to that list of names I learned back in Mrs. Kuzinierz's class.  

To me, the inauguration of Barack Obama is another step in welcoming the American people into his inner circle -- to be on a first name basis with him and the rest of our government. I am proud, motivated, excited and inspired to henceforth end my party trick as follows: "Bush, Clinton, Bush, Barack."