After a day of ceremonies, a night of parties, a wake up call, a shower, shave, dressing, and kissing family, Barack Obama set out for a delightful morning commute. Along the way, an elevator ride followed by a short walk, he endured a series of “Good morning Mr. President” and military salutes. I'm sure it was all quite wonderful. He walked into his office and sat down at his desk. There was nothing on it and the room was silent. Inside the main drawer was a handwritten note from his predecessor, a presidential custom. He read that. I'm confident he looked around and said to himself… ‘wow. ‘ Then the phone rang.
What followed that day, I'm certain was a series of briefings by his underlings about things well known and things only presidents and very few others are allowed to know. His wonderful morning rapidly became the worst day ever.
Financial meltdown. Talk of Economic Depression. More than 180,000 troops deployed in multiple war zones. A $1 trillion fiscal hole in the budget. A climate crisis getting worse by the minute. Crumbling infrastructure. Record, crippling high oil prices. More and more and more. Even pirates! Yes, even pirates. Also many a secret thing that only a president is privy too. Dark, but necessary things.
Then he was told how much or how little he could do about all of it. Mostly how little.
Thousands of decisions needed to be made. Hundreds of orders needed to be issued. Not to mention, billions of people around the world counting were counting on him to make the right call, every time.
Worse, he hadn't even gotten around to the things he really wanted to do, his reasons for seeking this office in the first place.
He must have thought, “what have I gotten myself into?”
At the end of that day, which I'm sure was a long one, President Obama went home. There were the “Good night Mr. President” and the salutes. But there was less spring in his step. His shoulders were little heavier for the carrying. Perhaps the first grey hair of many more to come appeared.
As I woke up this morning, that is what crossed my mind, seven years later. Next year on this day, someone else will wake up as President of the United States. As for me and my house, we are proud to say we are glad the man who woke up that day in 2009 was equal to the challenge, so much so that he dare not leave as large a mess as he found upon arrival. If I could leave the new incoming president my own note it would read “That man who just left did you a lot of good. Never forget that.”