Change we can believe in or more of the same?

The blasted weather. In January, in my hometown of Boise, a lake of clouds settling over the valley can only mean one thing: a dreary inversion has parked over my house. They last for weeks upon weeks here. No snow, no rain, just clouds and darkness with nothing to account for it but a gloomy disposition. For someone who loves the sun on their face as much as I, this time of year can be suffocating, and of extremely long duration. I long for warmth. I long to plant my peas. I long to have a reason to wear my sunglasses. I long for Valentine's Day to hurry up and get here. I long....

I long for change.

Then one day finally, the clouds part and lift and low and behold, there it is. The sun, on the afternoon of Inauguration day believe it or not, peeked its shiny head out from behind the loveless clouds. I squealed and ran to my kitchen window, reveling in the warmth attaching to my face. I could almost feel the Vitamin D flow through my veins. My coffers of happiness re-filling. Oh, how I love the sun. And then, it left as quickly as it’d come. Gone again. Smothered in a blanket of gray mist. It has not returned since.

But its brief presence reminded me, all is not lost. Sunnier days are ahead. Eventually it will come out to stay. I must wait. I must be patient.

The parallels of the sun briefly shining last Tuesday did not escape my notice. A new president is a new beginning. A new hope. That day was a sliver of light in a graying time. Like the sun that did not linger, it only reminded me of what was to come.

Being the realist that I am, I know President Obama cannot possibly do all he has set out to, and I can’t help but wonder if there really will be much change or if it will just be politics as usual. Were the clouds moving back into place an ominous sign? Every new president has a sweeping optimistic agenda when they come into office, but as we were reminded with President Bush, sometimes outside circumstances cloud previous plans for success. The political theatre in Washington will probably continue as it always has.

We are living in a difficult, stressful time. So much so, that perhaps our generation will be defined by these years much like my grandparents were defined by the Great Depression. Will President Obama solve all of our problems as a nation? No, but he can offer a warm ray of hope in a troubled time. Much like many other popular world leaders have rallied their countries in times of crisis: Ronald Reagan, Nelson Mandella, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt. I’m hoping Obama can do the same. He may succeed. He may fail.

But until we find out which, I refuse to drag him into the mire. Not yet. Not when he’s done nothing to merit such comparisons. He’s done nothing yet that hasn’t been done before. I will not dirty my feet by comparing his popularity to the most horrible regimes the world has ever known. I only have one word for that.

Hate.

They say positive change starts with each person. Obama and his administration can not solve my problems. Only I can. I must look ahead. I must wait, and be patient to wear my sunglasses again.

For that is really the only thing I know for sure. The sun will come up, and eventually it will shine through.