The Bigger Picture

I was able to watch the Inauguration (let's just not mention that I had to look this word up. yes. I used to know how to spell) last night on a freakin' TV!!!!!! A T.V. You'd think, living in a village, that those would be hard to come by... or if you did find them they'd have rabbit ears and the picture would be all fuzzy. No. I may not have a TV (not having one seems to be shocking to some people.. my office once asked if Peace Corps was going to give me money for one), but I definitely had my choice of ones to choose from when I wanted to watch the news... and all those choices came with full cable.. I could have caught an episode of some reality show on MTV! I originally thought I would be able to access a live feed on a news website, but no such luck... my computer can't support such fancy endeavors... so, I walked across the road to my family's house to see if we could all watch together. Fifteen minutes later I found myself in MmaKori's living room (she's in Pretoria right now) with Maite, Karabo, and Lethabo, watching, wide eyed, a moment in history. I finally got to hear Obama speak. I finally got to see him in real time. And it definitely took me awhile to come down from it all. Being in Africa right now, feeling a part of such a bigger, open picture... it feels good. He has a tough, rough road ahead, and a job that I don't think many people envy, but I think he's being realistic... and it feels nice to listen to his words. I'll admit, on more than one occasion I teared up. Part of it was the message of hope. Part of it was that I could feel a connection to his words. Part of it was watching things that were once somewhat familiar be in the distance. Most of it was the overwhelming sensation of being reminded that we're part of something big... that we're just specks, little dots, in the grand scheme of it all. I forget that sometimes. I get lost in the world of the village, in the world going on inside my head, and I lose the scope that allows me to see things while stepping back.
The Bigger Picture. Woo. When people clapped and cheered as the festivities began, Karabo whooped and clapped right along with them. When Mr. President mentioned that the world was watching, even people in a village in Africa, Maite laughed to herself. Last night was one of fitful sleep, goose bumps, and perspective. There are lots of things ahead, a full future, and I am glad I'm able to watch it all unfold.