If I Was President

Not long ago, those words were merely the name of a Wyclef Jean song. Today, they hold so much more meaning.

Today was a very intense, beautiful, and emotionally exhausting day. I found myself feeling all sorts of ways throughout the day; from being hyperemotional to nonchalant to deliriously anxious to the verge of tears. Witnessing the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States is one that I will never forget.

One of the most poignant moments during the day came when my mind raced back 13 and a half years ago to October 16, 1995. As my uncle, grandfather, and I strolled the National Mall that day I can clearly recall being overwhelmed by an intense feeling of joy and excitement. It was something almost magical to bear witness to history in living color.

Fast forward to today and that same aura came back. It was truly a remarkable sight to see. My grandfather called me later in the day to shoot the shT for a bit and we spoke about how magical it all really turned out to be. And then he heaped praise upon me that I don't even think I deserve, but it means so much to hear it from him. I remember as a child hearing this one story in particular he used to tell. Having grown up on the Lower East Side, his multicultural neighborhood was always full of surprises. One day, he got sent home from school because he hadn't washed up properly. Apparently, the teacher had told him to wash his neck, but he mistook that for a simple soap remedy when, in fact, there was nothing he could do to rid his skin of its hue. With a spanish surname, light eyes, and dark skin; what was he to do? Today, was a day that will will forever be etched in the hearts, minds, and souls of millions across the globe.

Throughout the day, I kept changing my facebook status via phone to match my changing mood and/or perspective. From wondering how "shook" the limo driver must have been to secretly hoping Bush got booed, it was a great experience to see the power of technology to connect. I don't even like Twitter that much but we were definitely getting our super-twit on today. And honestly, it would have been bad form for the crowd to boo Bush en masse. But I also did secretly hope that somebody would shove Chaney's gangster a$$ down those steps as well. Oh well. I need to stop being so mean, I suppose.

Even more profound were the dozens of articles I have read from journalists on down to everyday people sharing their thoughts, perspectives, and insights on the inauguration and election in general. The part of Obama's speech that stood out to me the most: "be judged by what you can build, not by what you can destroy." It was a truly beautiful piece of simple wordplay with such a deeply compelling message of hope, leadership, and substance all in one.