Just a few more hours….

I heard on NPR today that the internet and phone companies are worried about data overload tomorrow so I’ll post this tonight to avoid clogging the tubes tomorrow.

I haven’t paid much attention to many inaugurations in my life. I started paying attention after I was able to vote. That means that I’ve watched Clinton’s. I did not watch Bush II’s inaugurations but I read the coverage.

So, this will be the second inauguration that I will watch. I may end up having to listen to it since I’ll be at work. I had hoped to watch it online but if the interwebtubes are going to be stopped up that might be out.

It’s very heartening to me to see the amount of anticipation and even excitement about this new president. The fact that many news sites are worried about crashing from data overload is another sign of this excitement. More people than ever want to see our new president sworn in – want to hear what he has to say and witness it as it happens.

Obama’s pre-inaugural approval ratings are up to 60% and higher, which means even people who didn’t vote for him like what they’re seeing and hearing so far. I admit my bias but I honestly don’t remember this feeling of optimism and outright happiness about a new commander in chief, especially from the public at large.

There are many factors, I know. The bad economy has everyone wanting a change and the naysayers will say that that’s all this excitement is – anticipation of new ideas and a better fiscal future. There’s also the added glee at finally breaking the racial barrier for the highest office in the land. But I saw this optimism starting before the national financial crisis even started. I saw it during Obama’s campaign, even back when I was leaning more toward Clinton. Back when Obama was deemed unelectable.

I thought he was unelectable myself. I honestly thought that those out there who won’t read more than captions on a picture wouldn’t be able to get past that name – only one letter removed from the name of this nation’s most reviled man in the past decade. That and the fact that he wasn’t blindingly white.

I can’t express how glad I am to be wrong.