Sunnyland Summit Rancho Mirage California; and Air Force One

Its been a very exciting week.  While it was extremely fast paced and busy just like every week, I have had the distraction of our President coming for the Summit in Rancho Mirage.  It didn't personally affect me but I could see the road blocks, heightened security everywhere, Secret Service and enjoyed the palpable excitement that many of us felt.   So I am sharing some of the fun I had in seeing Air Force One for the first time.  And while going to lunch in Palm Springs yesterday we seen a few Secret Service men (dressed in the cliched black) parked and waiting along Palm Canyon Drive.  How cool is that? (I know I am a photography nut but I didn't try to take pictures of them.)

I am not too proud to admit that I was excited that President Obama had chosen the city where I work to hold the Sunnyland Summit.  Unfortunately there are some that would like to pretend that it is no big deal to them with a seen-it-done-it snobbery.  Actually I feel sorry for people that have that attitude because while I do not worship or idealize people, it is OK to feel excitement and join festivities around someone special visiting.  I think life would be rather boring if I didn't feel enthusiasm for events.

A quick note just in case someone thinks that I should address some political issues here.  I am not politically naive or completely clueless to the world events, I simply feel that my sweet little Butterfly In The Attic is not the place to stand on a political soap box.  But instead, as I am a Christian woman, I would like to share a Bible passage that I find particularly helpful when frustrated with our nation's course. 

1 Peter 2:13-17
King James Version (KJV)

^" Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.   For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."









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Did You Know? This Week In History - The First Inaugral Address

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 Did you know?  Between January and April of 1789 congress officially put in effect the constitution of the United States and unanimously elected Washington to become the our first president. Since I am in management I can, on a very small scale, relate to the undertaking, fear and excitement of these forefathers of our country.  Could you imagine the strategy and the organizational skills it would take to first establish this as a country, write a policy and procedure manual from scratch for a nation and then find that one person that would be able to unite this large team of line staff (the citizens of the United States?)  It is a challenge to motivate and unite 85 people towards a common goal and new project, none the less a nation of about 3 million.

General Washington

When I put it into a perspective like that I have to always give our presidents many kudos and much respect.  I know the day to day challenges that face me and how frustrating it is to have a vision of how well something will work to only face a mass of people that have less enthusiasm or even if they want to achieve the same goal, they may all have different ideas on how to achieve that goal.  April 1789 then newly elected President George Washington packed up his Virginia home, borrowed some money (imagine today's president saying "I will be there as soon as I get the loan to move"?), and moved to New York.  On April 30 1789, George Washington gave his official Inaugural Address just to congress, again a vastly different process than what our modern nation is accustom to seeing.  They sealed the deal with 13 skyrockets and blasts from 13 canyons and our nation was off and running.

As trying and dysfunctional as our country can be; when you take a step back and look at it from a 30,000 foot view over the last few hundred years it is awesome.  It brings a definite sense of patriotism and respect that often gets shoved aside as I am dealing with the daily trials of the day.  This country was started with just an idea of what would bring happiness and a better quality of life to its citizens.  Because we had men of action such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton, I, an average everyday citizen, can sit here today and blog on the Internet freely and without fear.  I am able to reach thousands and the potentially millions (technologically speaking) with this simple message of awe for the foundation of our country. 

So as I start my day in the United States, my country, I want to give thanks to all of the presidents, political staff, and people who have the daunting job of leading over 300 million people towards common goals and visions.  I also want to thank our military men and women who took the 30,000 foot view and said "Yes, this is worth fighting for."  I may not always understand or even agree with the political stance of our nation but I to must say that "Yes, this is worth fighting for" "...one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.."

American Soldier 1917
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