Inspiration

We seldom share our lives beyond mountaineering on this platform but felt compelled to after visiting the Obama Presidential Center. Darren Cook, Terry, and Mark had the honor of attending the Grand Opening. It surpassed our expectations and then some. We have had the great fortune of traveling the world to see incredible monuments, museums, libraries, and cathedrals. This ranks as one of the most inspirational, powerful, and beautiful days of our life.

The grounds were alive with music, dancing, families, and hope.

President Obama made sure this Center was more than about only him. It is a place to reflect on the entirety of the civil rights movement and beyond. The Obama Presidential Center honors Native people, highlights the fight for climate justice, the fight for justice for people with disabilities, and disenfranchised people in general.

Every level of the museum has a central theme.

The emotional aspect is what hit us the hardest. We hugged, laughed, and shed tears with people we just met. And the people were proud... Proud of the Obamas. Proud of this part of our history. Proud to be on these incredible grounds.

30 artists were involved in the design.

If you open the desk drawer, you will find a surprise. (See below...a letter President Bush wrote to the new President Obama.)

We recognized many of these dresses of the First Lady.

President Obama stated this exhibit still moves him.

Probably as close as we will ever get to the Obamas. Take your time at this exhibit. The artist has so many secrets.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/334dea_e25fe11c72ab4d50a8f0f5d14dd66d5d/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

So much joy!