Soul Food

When I came home from the gym last Tuesday morning, Brooks was serving up breakfast to the kids.

"What are you making?" I ask him as I walk in, smelling something good.

"Ba-rockin' Obama pancakes, of course." he answers working away at the griddle.

I've never heard of such pancakes before but it's all starting to make sense: the morning's inaugural festivities are streaming from msnbc.com on the counter to his right. To my surprise and delight, the kids are totally into it. I had been listening to the commentary on NPR as I drove home and wished that Brahm and Oliver could hear it, too, so I was glad to see that Brooks (as always) was one step ahead.

"Mom! Today Barack Obama is going to be made president of the United States!"

"Look! There he is in that car. Did you know that his car is bomb-proof? Is it even atomic bomb-proof?"

I'm like many people, liberal on some issues and conservative on others. Regardless of where I stand or party lines in general, it's hard to imagine anyone remaining unmoved after watching last week's broadcast. I myself haven't felt so inspired by a political leader since, well, since I've been old enough to comprehend politics in general. In a time when many of us could use a little inspiration, the sense of hope the change of office brings truly goes a long way.

The significance of a black president is not lost on me but I am not old enough to truly appreciate it. I was stirred nonetheless by the stories and images of people who are. Martin Luther King Jr. has long been one of my true heroes for the way he used love to change America's future. "The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice." he once said. Last Tuesday would have been payday for him.

Well, I won't wax long on this entry. I'm mainly writing this down to remember what happened and how I felt that day. In fact, I was so stirred by it all that I let Oliver be late for school (Brahm had the day off) so he could take in as much as he wanted. Later, when it was just Brahm and I in front of the computer, I leaned down to him and said, "I hope you remember this day for the rest of your life."

Ba-rockin' Obama Buttermilk Pancakes

2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp soda
4 tsp baking powder
2 Tbs sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 c buttermilk
1/2 c milk
1/4 c oil

Beat eggs. Add milk and buttermilk. Sift together dry ingredients in separate bowl. Add dry to wet and gently fold in the oil just until well-blended. If you stir too much, it makes the pancakes tough. Also, if you mess with the ingredients to try and make this more healthy (like I always do - no sugar, whole wheat, etc.) they just won't be as delectable. I got this recipe from my sister-in-law's mother, S. Beazer.