Dear Boots,

I am writing to you today, January 20, 2009, because this is a very historic day. This is the day that Barack Hussein Obama becomes the President of the United States.

Another very historic day is coming soon, and that is the day that you will be born. Your father and I are very excited that you are joining our family. Daddy’s been talking to you each day by leaning over and addressing my big belly. We call you Boots right now because you kick around a lot in there – you flop and flip and squirm and squish around, and whenever you do, I can tell you’re up to something. I wish all the time that I could see you in there, but for now, we have to be patient and wait for your arrival. You need some more time in there anyway, so you can grow a little more and get ready for the world.

We don’t know if you’re a boy or girl yet, we decided to keep it a surprise. We know we’re going to love you no matter what. You already have a crib from our friends Brian and Marci Grossman, and a car seat from my cousin Debbie.

So, back to history…by the time you are my age, I am hoping that having a leader like Obama will seem like old hat to you, like something completely regular. For me, it is something new. Obama is the first African-American President of the United States. He is the 44th President. In the two hundred and thirty odd years since this country was established, we have never had an African-American President, so that’s a big deal.

And what’s an even bigger deal for me and your Dad is that Barack Obama seems like a great leader. He is enormously smart, strong, reasoned, logical, balanced, and good. He has values that we understand.

Things have been very dark in our country for several years. In the past 9 years, horrible things have been happening, like 9/11 and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and our country seems to be falling apart. In 2000, George Bush became President, but it is not clear that he won the election. Many people felt that he stole the Presidency. Right now, people are losing jobs, losing their houses, not able to go see the doctor if they are sick. It’s very hard for a lot of Americans. And people have felt like they are not part of the country. People have been feeling powerless and full of despair.

Barack Obama has given people hope. More than ever, people believe that things can change for the better, partly because this unknown, inexperienced, junior senator from Illinois has gone from delivering a very good speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 to gathering grassroots support across the entire nation and getting elected President. People that had never voted before turned out, states that never elect Democrats “turned blue.” People who had never participated in politics at all donated $5, $50, $500. Your father drove to New Hampshire and went door to door to tell people about Obama. He called lists of people. We donated money and attended fundraisers.

And today it feels like the first day of what we hope are better times. People across the country are so excited that they have gone to Washington DC in historic numbers to see Obama sworn in. There are millions of people there right now, bundled up against the chilly weather, huddled together, to celebrate a new era.

And we are so glad that you will be born into a country with hope. You must always believe that you can make a difference in the world, and you will.

Love,
Mom