At last!

I’m sitting here soaking up a remarkable day in history. It’s Inauguration Day and instead of going to a fancy ball in Munich, I chose to celebrate with a fellow ex-pat American friend.

Her children’s basement playroom was turned into a professional theater as we watched the live coverage with a projector on a huge screen. We made burgers and brownies, toasted President Obama and laughed when one of our kids said “Barack Obama is a rock star!” The comment wasn’t that far off.

You could say that he is the innovative President, the Internet President or the iTunes President. I’m beginning to think that he’s the multiple-intelligence President.

The fact that President Obama appealed to so many people is a testament to his ability to appeal to all of our intelligences. Books, speeches, deeds, and yes, music, have all been channels for President Obama’s winning campaign. I’ll be the first to admit that I made an inauguration playlist on my iPod for the event. It starts with the Etta James’ classic “At Last”. A song that will be performed for the President and the First Lady by Beyoncé Knowles at an Inaugural Ball, and a very fitting one at that.

Other artists and bands on my list include Diana Ross and the Supremes, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and U2 — many of the same performers who played at the Lincoln Memorial for Sunday’s concert. So now that the transfer of power has been signed, sealed and delivered , perhaps I’ll share my playlist with my next class. It’s more likely that I’ll remember to include multiple intelligences in my teaching. I can only hope that I’m as successful at tapping into them as President Obama has been.