I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: CHRIS FORSYTH & THE SOLAR MOTEL BAND-Dreaming in the Non-Dream (2017).

I was anticipating watching Forsyth at the end of last year but the show sold out on me.  (Note: he is playing nearby this Friday).

I heard about him from a stellar Tiny Desk Concert and was totally psyched to hear this four-song full length album.

The disc opens with the 11 minute History & Science-Fiction that starts with a slow bass line and lots of percussion.  After a short intro the guitar comes in with whammy bar’d chords.  It resolves into a really catchy “chorus” and then a slow down that reminds me of a softer “Marquee Moon.”  But instead of turning into a rocking solo section, it totally mellows out, with keyboards and cymbals and a pretty guitar melody.  It slowly builds out of that by switching from organ to sax.

[READ: December 27, 2017] Obama: An Intimate Portrait

Sarah got me this book for Christmas and it is awesome.  I wanted to spend 2018 looking forward, getting past the dumpster fire of 2017 and hoping we can move past what we are bogged down with.  #ITMFA #RESIST

But this book was just an amazing look back and something that gives me hope that we can move forward past what we have now.

Pete Souza is a tremendous photographer and this collection offers amazing access to a President who was full of gravitas and thoughtfulness.

We were concerned that reading this would be too depressing given the State of our country and the Embarrassment in Chief.  And in some ways it was depressing.  But in many ways it was what it was intended to be: inspirational.

It’s hard to believe that before our Chief Idiot was bumbling his way through life and giving literally zero thought to anything except his own ego, we as a country had 8 years of a leader who, these pictures show, put serious thought and concern into (almost) everything he did.  Obama was never quick to do anything–he was often mocked for his slow speech patterns–but this is a job where rushing to judgment never does anyone any good.  And you can see the pressures of the world weighing on him.

But this book is not all about pressure.  There are delightful moments of joy–with his daughters, with delightful citizens, with staff and of course with Michele.

Notice that our current Numbskull has shown no emotions but anger in anything he does.  These portraits of Obama show a man torn, conflicted and suffering with others and with the country.  When people were killed, he mourned.  When soldiers were injured, he empathized with them and their families.  But he also knew when to celebrate.  When he won re-election, when his daughters came home, when citizens came to see him, he celebrated with them.  And he showed them his humanity.

I was amazed at all of the pictures of Obama squatting down to be with children–going to them, not making them come to him.  Or leaning in to get closer to people–showing genuine human concern for people who were excited to see him.  There’s even humor, like when Obama is body surfing and one of the secret service tells Souza, “my job is to protect him from other, not from himself.”

Also, the clear love between himself and Michele and his children is on display whenever they are near.  Souza may be a terrific photographer, but he couldn’t fake it if it wasn’t there.  There is no holding back the love on display.  Playing with his daughter in the pool or in the snow, hugging them during a tragedy or just the joy at seeing them.  It is wonderful to see it on display, reminding us that emotion and empathy are important traits in a leader.

This humanity and empathy is sorely lacking in leadership in our country right now–both the President and Congress who are simply out to take whatever they can from the country and leave the rest to rot.

Beyond the Obama himself, Souza’s photographs are really gorgeous.

There are several scenes where the Obamas are in the foreground, but really it’s the background that is stunning–his photo of the Grand Canyon, with Obama and nearing the edge is breathtaking.  Or inside the Pyramid at Giza.  The family dining and overlooking the city of Moscow is stunning.  And that picture of the Great Wall–wow.

And then there’s simply photos of the White House that most of us will never see elsewhere–the basketball court.  My daughter was amazed at the movie theater.  And of course, the President at the Resolute Desk.

And of course, the emotion is really moving.  Make no mistake, you will cry while reading this.  There are stunning moments of history.  Reading about things that happened after the fact when we know what impact they have had on history.  Seeing Obama sitting in the Rosa Parks bus.  There are moments where you can’t help but be moved by children marveling at seeing the President.  And of course, seeing him with Vice President Biden is always good for a smile.

Whether because of sadness at what we have now or out of joy for what we had, this is a powerful collection and it is also a terrific historical document of 8 years of our country.  Before Hope was beaten down by Hate.  When a leader was for the people, not for the rich.  When a President allowed people to have access to him, not someone who hid away afraid of the Press (and the Truth).

And when a photographer was able to capture almost 2 million photos–not all of which are included here, but those which are are great.