I wonder if this week’s historic inauguration will become one of those moments, where people talk about where they were when (fill in the blank) took place.

I won’t easily forget where I was when I heard Barack Obama give his first address as President of these United States of America. Oh, I didn’t travel to Washington for the occasion. I did, however, trek across town with a coworker to catch an early lunch at Nina’s.

Our timing was impeccable: as we paid our bill, the speech came on television. And Jessica and I stood craning our necks to watch and listen as history was made before our eyes.

It doesn’t matter to me where I was for the occasion, for it was the words themselves that truly mattered most. Passionate, visionary words that resonated with many. Words that outlined the strengths of our nation and laid a foundation of hope for overcoming the challenging times we face. Those words, which I am sure will oft be quoted, were at once strong, sentimental, evocative and inspirational.

I’m not a card-carrying Democrat; in fact my political leanings have always been a bit further right. But even though my vote may not have been cast for the man who now sits at the helm of our great nation, I have no less respect for the man or the position and no less hope for his success.

I sincerely hope that President Obama will breathe new life into our country, because we desperately need it. In his address he spoke of the “sapping” of our nation’s confidence being just as profound as the economic crisis in which we are embroiled. We need a visionary leader to bring hope and change, thus restoring that confidence.