Chebeague Island, Maine

The weekend's fresh snow formed blindingly white mounds outside of the Rec Center on Chebeague Island, making the interior of the gym, blacked out with construction paper and duct tape, difficult to navigate. The school kids sprawled on thick gymnastics mats and a spattering of adults sat in folding chairs or stood leaning against the walls, some resting babies on forearms, some leaving both hands ready to applaud. One of the 23 students from the adjacent two room school house would occasionally thrust a patriotic party favor into the streaming light of the projector, shaking the red white and blue vigorously until a teacher whispered a warning.

At noon, the CNN commentator announced that although he was not yet sworn in, Barack Obama was officially the 44th president of these United States. The gym erupted in yelps and claps from the crowd, those little patriotic favors up in the air, little hands grasping the bases, no admonishments this time.

As Obama completed his oath, a boy ran into his mom's arms, "Mommy, did you know Barack Obama is our new president?"

Everyone sat silent through his speech; second graders still as a second grader can actually be, septuagenarians transfixed by the new president's words.
(Finally, a president who can speak well!)

After the speech and before the luncheon, before the parade, before the balls, the school kids took a recess and the adults congregated in the crafts room, munching on flag-colored cupcakes and Michelle Obama's shortbread cookies on paper plates, smiling ear to ear.

What a day on this little island in a big ocean next to an enormous continent full of towns and cities bursting with people wiping tears from their smiles, remembering darker times in a way that illuminates the present, feeling proud of our "patchwork heritage", feeling hopeful for the future.