Did you catch Obama's speech to Congress last night? The enthusiasm was palpable. The sense of hope and eager anticipation that reverberated off of the walls of Congress was also at a high, in my living room.

Now, I can't tell you how Congressional addresses made by Bush were received. You see, whenever I saw that smarmy grin and heard his incoherent, arrogant babble, I would change the channel with the swiftness of a cheetah. I may be unathletic, and completely uncoordinated for that matter, yet if there were to be an Olympic event in channel changing, I would win top honors. Specifically, if the event was centered on changing the channel to avoid Bush's stupid face and verbal diarrhea.

I spent the majority of the Bush administration with my eyes closed and fingers in my ears. I would often try to take off to a “happy place" in my mind. Ironically, that happy place was typically one where we had a capable and effective leader.

Unfortunately, although we now have that leader, this nation is far from a happy place. We are in it ladies and gentleman. And, by in "it" I mean deep shit of course. Obama was right in saying that we've “inherited" the mess that the Bush administration got us in.

We have a long, long road ahead to recovery. There have been instances over the last few weeks where I have experienced some doubt and concern over how things could possibly get any better, anytime soon. However, although I've come to terms with the fact that it may just take us eight years to get us out of this mess, I have tremendous faith in Obama's abilities. Obama has been able to enable me to hold on to the smallest, yet growing sense of hope.

I can only wish that he has done the same for you.