Jack Cafferty on CNN said it best by saying the Inauguration festivities were like “a wedding symbolizing the marriage between The Obamas & America”, & I would say with the world at large!

I can’t see anyone having anything negative to say about the inaugural day & night’s festivities! The packaging was absolutely magnificent, inspiring & captivating, but most of all it truly is THE REAL DEAL!

But of course one must have some critics; I guess the critics & naysayers didn’t hear the welcome for rivals & those who disagree.  It’s the “brush your shoulders off” type of era, where people are wearing “I love my haters” t-shirts because the naysayers regardless of their negativity or reservations are finding it difficult to have much to say.

As President Obama keeps giving nothing but NET, even from the 3 point line, you can choose to wait for the star point guard to lose the respect & leadership of his team or go out with an injury before the championship game, or  you can choose to join his franchise team !

The nayers & nega-monsters (naysayers & negativity driven monsters) suggested telling the waitress that the check was “straight”, was some how youthful or Ebonics lingo, but as an elder amongst the youth,  you gave them a lesson in ” Ol Skool” & what could be! It was reported as unconventional on the first day of business in the oval office , to choose to sit at your desk without a noose around your neck, bypassing the symbolism & the fact that you have always given the unexpected . The Obama Era started on being unconventional! When You are the Real Deal , the window dressing is not necessary because you can shine without it!

President Obama like a trash talking guard has let the nayers know!

“If the way I played this championship game didn’t impress you, then wait until the next one!”

This is the Era of the O!  O NOW!

Where mediocrity in responsibility & self is unacceptable! If the Chief Justice messes up a few words of the constitution during the oath of it’s top leader, he must do it over.  Complacency in the acceptance of mediocrity damages a brand based on Excellency!

This is the Era where fulfilling your obligations is the norm & going beyond the call of duty is expected!

The Era where there are no apologies for high expectations of ourselves & others!

An Era where Intelligence is Celebrated & ignorance is frown upon!

The Era of “faking it until you make it” is no longer an option, It’s about giving & being the Real Deal You!

An Era where you know when to put on the charm & flash a captivating smile, but the game face is ready in focus & seriousness of the tasks ahead, as to not have your kindness be taken for weakness!

The Obama’s gave the child in us all, that big shiny box with a bow that was bigger than you as a child, on your birthday, knowing that this was going to be everything you spent sleepless nights dreaming of what the feeling would be like when you saw & opened that box , & the joy & tears of the single mother, who got that extra job & saved a little everyday, spending sleepless nights dreaming of what the feeling would be like when her child saw & opened that box! The packaging was captivating & inspiring, but when you opened the box you knew this was the real deal feeling in your dreams, which would inspire & excite you to share it with others & do whatever it took to have many more days like this!

I felt the realness in this new deal as I got an e-mail from President Barack Obama thanking me for being part  of the most open inauguration in our nations’ history & a random text message from a # I did not recognize saying “Martin Luther King died in 1965. Barack Obama is our 44th president. 1965 + 44 = 2009!  “Tell me God Ain’t have a plan”. Yes people are still saying Ain’t, so one day at a time –LOL!

I surely believe God has a plan for all of us – but God also helps those who help themselves. When the work stops getting put in is when the blessings cease to come!

O NOW represents a sense of hope with accomplishment in mind, against all odds & the freedom & will to put in the work expected of those who are to be blessed & deserving!

Let’s get to work!

This Is Our Individual & Collective moment!