Barack and Roll

Dear President Obama,

So, how was your first day?

New jobs are rough, aren’t they? Between the gala balls and the swearing in, you’ve got to figure out when to take your lunch break, where the bathrooms are, and which of your officemates are feuding or sleeping together.

Hey, before you get too busy finding world peace and patching up the ozone layer, I just want to say congrats, and thanks.

We both know that your job will be really, really hard. Some people see you as a knight on a white horse who is going to swoop in and fix everything, thus restoring the glory of our limp nation. Others are standing by, waiting to witness your failure. Either way, whatever you do and whenever you do it, the judging eyes of the world are focused squarely on you. I am so proud of you for accepting this challenge. I appreciate your humanity, your humility, your courage, and your candor.

I for one will not sit idly, glued to facebook, expecting you to tidy up this mess on your own. I’ve got your back. You knew coming in that the best way to inspire change in this nation was to inspire agents of change, and I’m proud to join those ranks. I am privileged to have the opportunity to do so, and to spread your passionate optimism with the people in my life.

I told my kids what you said, that they don’t have to be President to serve their country. But I also cautioned them about selling themselves short, either of them CAN be president, and that is pretty much the only way they are guaranteed the chance to go bowling in the white house. My boy is intrigued, but my girl wants none of it. She does not want your job, she said there are too many choices to make and she knows that she takes too long when she has to choose. She would prefer to stay a kid. She said that grown ups always have to fill out papers. How boring.

One of the really cool things about being on this journey with you for the last year has been to watch it through the eyes of my children. My two are the same age as your girls – and mine are both readily available for playdates and/or arranged marriages. They are at the age when their social consciousness is ripening and they are really paying attention. They question everything, and from campaign to inauguration they have cued in on the big issues. They don’t miss a trick, and even though they have mixed you up with both Tiger Woods and will.i.am, they cheered themselves hoarse when you won, and they are positively bursting with anticipation of the ways that you will help them change their world for the better.

I had the distinct pleasure of watching your inaugural address with my girl’s 2nd grade class, on a tv with rabbit ears and rolling static. That didn’t detract from your impact, on me or on those kids. They were all fired up for the chance to watch it live. Maybe more so because your speech took the place of morning math, but still. They are keen to the fact that this is history, this is a day they will remember.

You spoke to me yesterday about the impact that our actions will have on the inevitability of our children’s fate. You talked about the "sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights." Cheese and Rice, man. Them’s fightin’ words. Thank you for taking up this fight for them. For all of us.

One word of advice, Barack, if I may be so bold. My kids and many others will take you a lot more seriously if you stop saying “duty” so much.

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So good luck, buddy. Let me know if you need anything. Thanks for making it happen.
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love,

Jacquie

“Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

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