Living In History

What a time we're living in!

I came "home" from living abroad for five years. I came "home" during an economic recession. I came "home" and decided to move 2,500 miles across this great, big, beautiful country of ours with only what would fit in my little Hyundai (and that's including my dog!). I came "home" in the 6th year of the Iraq War. But the important part is that I came home.

When I was in elementary school, I studied about American history just as any other good little boy or girl would. I learned about the Revolutionary War and the Emancipation Proclamation. I learned the preamble to the Constitution and the Gettysburg Address. But the really exciting stuff for me was the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and the assassination of JFK. Luckily for me, my parents lived through all of this exciting history. I would run home after class to ask my parents how they felt and what the atmosphere was like during such an amazing time in history, only to be met with,"Hmmm, Holly, I don't really remember."

I was devastated. Unfortunately, my parents weren't political people. Sure, they lived through it. They saw it. They experienced it, but it wasn't their passion. They were too busy finding a way to eke out a living and put some bread and butter (and I do mean this literally) on the table. Yes, they cared, but at the same time, life was just too important.

And here I am. 50 years later, and living in history. Regardless of your political view, one cannot deny the wonderfully exciting and very passionate time in American history. Just last year, we saw a black man take oath to become the first black President. And now a little over a year later, we see this health care bill. This blog is not for me to speak about where I stand politically, but to emphasize the fact the all this heat being generated through the United States is raising the temperature to an amazing notch in history.

And we're LIVING in IT!!! I can't wait until my future children go to school and learn about this time in their history books. Maybe they'll run home to ask me, "Mom, tell me about the atmosphere of the late 2000 decade. What was it like? What did you feel when all this was happening?" And although many moons will have passed to reach this day, I must say that there will be no shadow in my memory. I'm already clipping newspaper articles for this day.