Beyoncé could not have sung a better choice of song than that at the Neighborhood Ball tonight. After 2 years of waiting, we finally, finally have a president that stands, speechifies, and feels like a qualified leader.

When was the last time we had a president who had trouble making a speech because people couldn’t contain their cheering and had to let loose after every other word? When was the last time we had a president who actually could make a stirring speech at all? When was the last time people teared up to see a president dancing with his wife? Or the last time people teared up about electoral politics at all? When was the last time it was ok to throw parties for an inauguration? Or to bake a bi-partisan (blueberries and raspberries) pie with the president’s name spelled out in extra pie dough on top? Or to bake cookies in honor of the first syllable of a new president’s name? Or sat at work alone, after everyone else has left early to celebrate, watching a choppy video stream of the inauguration ceremony in CNN.com, and practically bawling? (Yes that was me… no qualms about it.)

Maybe I am too young because I cannot remember the last time any of this has happened. I was not around to experience and fully understand JFK’s star power. But this must have been what it was like.

This is where I begin to ramble because I’m tired, having spent about 6 hours in the kitchen cooking/cleaning up/making a mess again, and also sniffling happily on and off:

In the aftermath of the hyperjoyful glow, it seems to me that the fervor with which the nation at large is adoring and embracing our new president is not just an indication of the assurance that Obama radiates, it’s an indication of how crazy the challenges ahead will be. I for one desperately want him to be as audacious, wise, and dignified as he has built himself up to be. We have no choice but to put all our hopes in him now. So I can’t help but think maybe, just maybe, the intense cheering isn’t just a cry of support, it’s a cry of pleading. Please President Obama, be as good as you promised us you’ll be.

But if there’s one thing that I’ve taken away from all those speeches of his, it’s that it is striking how he has made it a trademark of his to call individuals to action, and places the responsibilities back in the people’s, not the administration’s, hands. This call for collective responsibility and accountability is strikingly missing in Bush’s speeches, for one. It’s not like Obama is being lazy and shifting his responsibility to his constituents’ though. It is more like he is doing what any good “parent” would do to the child they care about – teach them the skills to fend for themselves. So in the end, whether or not Obama himself is that amazing does not matter. What matters is that, even before he took office, he had the good sense to know how to lead – to ask for help. His opponents would call that weakness but actually… that is exactly what is amazing about him. He is realistic. And wise.

Basically I think I have a very good feeling about this. Even after the contagious happiness, transmitted through internet cables, tv screens, and living room comraderie, wears off, I have an undeniable feeling that this will be four exciting, positive years coming right up.

Oh man. I have to go to sleep. Enough said now – history has been made!
Happy Obamaday! Woooooooooooooooooo!