Inauguration of a President: The Day After

Since early 2007 when Jacob urged me to get on the "Obama Train," I've read Obama's novels and most of his major speeches, supported the candidacy as much as I could, and followed all the primary and general election polls via RealClearPolitics and many other sources, right up until the night of the election and the ultimate victory. Still, I waited until this morning to believe the other guy was back in Texas and President Obama had secured his place in history.

This morning my first words to Beth were "Is Obama still president?" My lingering disbelief is partly a reflection of the overwhelming feeling that the "W" administration would never end, especially in light of his 'disastrous presidency,' and the convincing precept of my friend Dave Lentz's novel, AmericA, Inc., in which President Bash, nearly at the end of his legal term, incorporates the US government, circumventing the limit of his power, and thereby preserving his hold on America. I read an early draft before the novel was published, but have avoided it since, for fear reading it might make it true. I believe only now, that I'll be able to read it solely as a work of fiction.

Yesterday's Inauguration itself comes at the intersection of so many historical vectors, and although certainly President Obama's full impact on America will be shaped by the coming weeks and years, I share the feeling of hope and promise reflected by the campaign that brought him to The White House. Noting all he accomplished today (and wondering how much more he'd have accomplished with a full night's sleep instead of attending all those Balls), the slogan has become a reality and I feel a part of it.



Yes, we can!

Dirigo Nordic Ski Team

We're three weeks into the competitive high school skiing season and so far the results have been good and the team is having a lot of fun.

When I arrived in Dixfield to teach at Dirigo High School in 2001, there was no ski program and one of my first initiatives was to ask the principal and superintendent for the permission to start one. Maine, and especially Western Maine, is fertile ground for skiing and most schools in the surrounding districts have both alpine and nordic race programs at the High School and Middle School levels. We've managed to maintain the high school nordic team for eight years and had a small contingent of alpine skiers for a few years as well, although they've mostly moved along.

Usually the athletes join the team with no nordic skiing experience (try that with your basketball or football program) but are flexible and motivated enough to accept the challenge of learning to ski and race at the same time. Without a middle school feeder program, the current trend will continue, although there are two Dirigo Middle Schoolers racing on their own this year, so we look forward to having them join the team over the next couple years.

The key thing about Dirigo Skiing is getting out in the winter to learn a lifelong sport and have some fun in the snow. Our current group certainly has fun. That's not to say we ignore the competitive side of the sport and we've had some individual success. Ethan Ray cracked the top 10 in the Class C State Meet in 2003 with a 9th place finish in the classical race. (Coach missed the wax for freestyle race which likely cost him a top 10 finish in that event, too.)

Last season, Sophomore Kirstin Blood finished 5th in classical and 6th in freestyle in our conference meet--the best ever for a Dirigo skier. We're hoping she'll move up a bit this year--you never know!

So the next few Saturdays I'll be out in the snow somewhere in Western Maine, cheering on the team as they glide to the finish of another Nordic ski race.