Perhaps I’m stuck in some sort of media bubble, but I find it difficult to believe that many good friends of mine needed to be reminded that Tuesday was Inauguration Day. These aren’t dumb people, either. Regardless of whether or not you voted for Obama, shouldn’t you feel downright irresponsible for not paying even the slightest attention to this event? Sadly, I’m sure that many more people paid attention to the Super Bowl than a peaceful transfer of power.

Here’s where one of you should lambaste me for being a damn hypocrite. Can you remember ever watching an inauguration ceremony before? Maybe I did accidentally, but I have no proof.

So now that we’re in our first new week of an administration, I worry about the mountain of expectation heaped upon the man and his administration. It’s the first day of school, where gaffes rule and even the oath of office is corrected. I’m optimistic, as long as people give the guy a chance. We’re an impatient bunch, we Americans.

So on a rather historic Tuesday of 2009, I produced a piece on a small barbershop in South Peoria. Customers and barbers alike watched a small television tuned to CNN, leaving the typical sports talk to another day. Some teared up, while others smiled or just stared. I’m sure there were a lot of memories and feelings sitting heavy in the room that day.