November 6, 2008

I know it has no bearing on the Big Issues of the day – the Economic crisis, the war in Iraq, and really, too many others – but still, I find my self rather happy at the idea of kids and pets in the White House.

I had already noticed a definitely lifting of spirits at the notion that Obama would actually bring Sasha and Malia to Washington. Kids in the White House? It brings a certain… shift of focus, if only slight. First Children remind me, and I presume others, of the reason for much of what we do in our political and personal lives: pave a way towards a better future for the next generation. Some presidents brought a passel of kids to the White House, others only one or two. Kennedy brought tiny, pretty Caroline and John-John. Amy Carter seemed like just a regular school girl. They all pointed to a richness in the lives of households with children. Conversely, the Bush’s older twins, rarely seen but known for their occasional exploits as heavy-drinkin’ party girls (and probably pretty decent gals in normal life) were an apt commentary on the State of Our Youth. Or at least, some of our youth.

But now we have little girls in the White House, cute and charming ones at that And to top it off, they’re getting a puppy, which brings a silly little grin to my face. Why should I care? Have I ever even once had the inclination to view the Barney Cam? I certainly bear no ill will toward the reigning First Dog just because his human is a bad president. Well, for some reason, despite my hands off attitude toward Barney, the upcoming kid-and-pet show does capture my attention and lift my heart. And what it reminds me of, in the face of an incredible smorgasbord of social and economic problems, is the way the old Shirley Temple movies seemed to lift spirits during the Great Depression.

Perhaps it’s the need for a retreat, a kind of day-trip for the mind, a moment away from all the heaviness. It’s the metaphorical foot bath for the overloaded feet of our brains. And ultimately, maybe that moment Away From It All allows us to come back, slightly lighter, a wee bit less overwhelmed, to do the things we must to get through the next few years. We sit back in the modern theatre, in front of CNN and our laptops, scanning news reels for the latest, and it’s not good news out there. In spite of the election of victory, of an incredible step in manifesting our American experiment in freedom, the financial crisis looms large, and won’t go away anytime soon. Neither will Iraq, or the health care crisis, or our disintegrating infrastructure. And even in the moment of joy over electing an intelligent, visionary African American president (in my lifetime!), there is a heaviness as we let out a collective breath, and reflect on both the achievements and tragedies which brought us to this moment where race is not an absolute barrier to achievement. It’s a heavy time, all around.

And then the news reel shakes in the frame a little, the music changes, and for a moment we get to watch two delighted daughters, and anticipate what life is like when you’re six or eight and get to have a puppy, and unconsciously reflect on a time in our lives when delight in the things around us is a regular part of each day.

The news reel will go back to all the hard tasks ahead of us, but that moment of being able to shift focus, just for a moment, on something which delights many, but ultimately only matters to the Obama’s in any real sense. We get to share vicariously in their joy, and boy, do we need it.

Of course, I have to share that my tricky mind shoots another thought in there: a puppy? In the White House? Don’t they have antique carpets in that place? Good luck, first Family-elect. You are about to take on that most unwieldy of tasks common to parenting: Training the Puppy. Have fun!

Update:  Go figure.  Today Barney bit a reporter.  Probably grumpy over all the upheaval inside the White House the last few days… Not to mention what must have been quite the party outside on the night of November 4th.  Can’t blame ya, Barney, and the reporter was very good humored about it.