I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I chose this quote for today because we've been watching, of and on, President Elect Obama and his family as they take the train from Philadelphia to Washington DC, emulating Lincoln's whistle stop trip to take office. It has been inspiring seeing the confidence and joy in the Obamas, and the hope and excitement in the cold crowds - no starless midnight.

It has been a crazy busy day and I feel off center but not unhappy - actually pretty happy, just stressed. Ruth's sisters-in-law gave a lovely shower for her and Chris this morning, really sweet. I enjoyed meeting more of Ruth's friends and seeing again a young woman, now at the University of Texas, who was one of Chris's students and debaters when he taught in Jourdonton.

This evening Bob and I started a tradition of every other week music appreciation, spaghetti supper with international dessert Saturday nights with the grand kids. We listened to Shoebird - a story with music in the tradition of Peter and the Wolf, based on a story by Eudora Welty. I think we started a little too late, because Zachary fell asleep and Danny was fighting sleep by the end, but all of us enjoyed at least parts of the story and music - K.K. definitely liked the story of birds getting shoes and then discovering that they could no longer fly. So did I.

Our dessert, like our music, and appropriate to inauguration week, I think, was American: two pies, one cherry, one apple. I tasted both but didn't over eat - and am pleased that my weight is at it's low (just barely) since I started losing in August, after a little expected blip for the holidays. On another food note, Danny continues to be our foodie in training. K.K. and Zachary are good eaters but like their food plain and predictable. Not Danny. He reminded me tonight that he wanted his sauce out of the pot I made for Bob and me - spicier with mushrooms and he tried both pies, deciding he preferred cherry. He is the one who asks me what spice I'm putting in something and why and who reminds me that he wants to taste anything new I cook. I enjoy that about him.

K.K. is growing up so. She went today to a bat Mitzvah for a dancer friend, and is going to a party at the Main Event (bowling and other games) for the same girl tomorrow. Almost all the kids from the Level 4b ballet class attended the bat mitzvah, (including Ian looking according to K.K. VERY GOOD< not just good, Grandma). They seemed very grown up and elegant attending together. I'm proud of our girl.