President Obama

Nearly two weeks ago, a new era in American history began with the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I made a point of taking the day off to watch the entire television coverage and it was deeply moving to hear the roar of approval from the crowd when Obama took the oath and gave his inaugural speech. The television coverage lasted nearly all day and the parade went until well after darkness fell. I couldn't stay to watch the parade in its entirety because I had to go to my women's fitness class, but still, I did get to watch enough of it to get the sense of the history being made that day. I still have to pinch myself whenever I hear "President Obama" mentioned in news coverage, but still, it's a mighty good feeling to know that we're in good hands that will surely be able to guide us through this financial mess we're in. I know it's not going to happen in weeks or months, and I hope that people understand that and give the President some time to get things going through Congress. Still, things seem to be off to a promising start and although we've been warned that things are going to get worse before they get better, still, there is reason to hope that somewhere, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
My father, who was a sociology professor before his untimely death in 1961, specialized in race relations and I have come to find out that he'd be very proud of the inauguration of President Obama. Apparently, Daddy was at the forefront of fighting for civil rights before it was even an issue. Back when he was a professor at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, OH (where I was born in 1957), some black students came to him telling him that they'd been denied access to a skating rink, which claimed it was for members only. Daddy apparently led a group of black and white students to the rink and demanded an explanation as to why some supposed "non-members" were allowed to be skating (they were all white). Well, this confrontation, it would seem, made the front page of the newspaper and infuriated the President of Baldwin Wallace, thereby ensuring that Daddy would be denied tenure there. So my family left Berea for Kent where my father took a teaching position at Kent State University, his undergraduate alma mater. Once again, my father enjoined the civil rights cause when it was discovered that some approved off-campus housing was denying blacks the right to live there, and of course, he stood up for them. He and some other young professors wrote a letter to the campus newspaper, which of course, infuriated the President of the University. I don't know if this would have led to a denial of tenure had Daddy lived long enough to earn it, but still, it makes me feel so proud to know that my father stood up for civil rights before it was even a major issue in this country. His experience in WWII apparently opened his eyes to segregation and gave him the impetus to make race relations his life's work. At times, I do feel very bereft for not having had him around while growing up, especially the more I learn about him, but I know what a good man he was and would have been had he lived long enough to raise the four of us kids.

ANOTHER BIG SNOW
Last Wednesday, another big snow storm rumbled through our area, dumping nearly a foot of new snow on top of the nearly one foot that fell a few weeks ago and hasn't melted yet. It made for real hassles trying to dig out from still more snow on top of snow. Fortunately, we got out of work early that day so I was able to get home without too many problems. Still, my car was in the shop for repairs and I was driving a rental SUV which admittedly made me feel very safe. I can easily see the appeal of these large vehicles and what makes them so very popular and desirable. Upon getting home, I could not park in either my driveway or the abandoned gas station next door because of how much snow we had gotten, so I was forced to park in the street, knowing full well that there was a parking ban on, but I had no choice but to park the SUV where I could. I immediately called the man who does my shoveling for me and he said it would take an hour to get over to my place because he was busy shoveling himself out. By the time he got over to my house, I was falling asleep on the sofa reading and he came up to my apartment and told me I'd better move my car because the police were out ticketing and towing cars so our street could get cleared. I threw on my coat and boots and raced out to find a tow truck backing up to the rental SUV, even though Earl, my snow shovel guy, had told them he knew whose vehicle it was and he'd go and get me and tell me to move it immediately, which I did. Even though I did not get towed, I still had to pay for a tow (cash only, and I had to give the tow truck guy all of my cash just to convince him not to tow me) and I got a ticket even Earl told them that he'd go and get me and tell me to move my car. I went down to the police station enraged and told them I refused to pay the ticket because they were told that I was home and would move my car immediately, but they weren't in a listening mood. I filed an appeal on the ticket but I suspect I'll still have to pay it anyway, and the tow truck guy treated me like dirt because, as it turns out, he hates our street and he hates college students. Well, my silver hair should convince him that I am not some careless college kid who ignored the rules. I pleaded that I had nowhere else to park because I got stuck both in the gas station and my driveway, but they didn't care, so I guess I'm out the cost of the tow and the ticket. I told them that I have always been the one to complain about lack of plowing and other city services on our street. Apparently, this time, they didn't wait for me to call but decided to take a tough stance and lower the boom on everyone on our street, regardless. Well, I have my little subcompact car back and I should be able to get it in and out of our driveway now, just in case we have another big snowstorm, and one is predicted to be moving into our area tonight and into tomorrow, so.....we may not be out of this heavy snow anytime soon. Oh, how I wish winter would just END already!