Candice, I like your candor. Bet you are right. A lot of us remember him on this day but aren’t doing anything special. One thing is that I will be watching the tributes on TV along with the Obama inaugeration preparations.

I think it is important to remind the kids, that no dreams are too big to become real. Our school district waited five years after recognizing the holiday to give the kids a day off from school. They thought it was more important for the day to be spent in school, celebrating MLK, than having the day off. I tend to agree.

I am with Candice, as will be doing nothing special, but will watch the celebrations on TV.

Monday will rewatch MLK’s prescient “I Have Dream” speech and will realize that when President Obama is sworn in on Tues, it will also signify renewal of the American Dream, the US Constitution, and will revive hopes and spirits around the world. And MLK, Jr. will have the best commemoration ever—-realization of the mountaintop he envisioned and worked toward his entire 36 years.

As a teacher, honestly, this is usually a bonus day to veg. However this year, it’s different. I can’t help but wonder if only MLK were alive today witnessing his dream come true.

Here’s a mention about what we’re up to where I am. NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE, MONDAY JANUARY 19 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM, Portland President Elect Obama has called for communities to Renew America Together on the day before his inauguration. Monday January 19, 2008 is National Day of Service in honor of Martin Luther King. In Portland, as all across the country, volunteers are coming out in unprecedented numbers. More than seventy spirited neighbors and families have volunteered to ready historical Laurelhurst Park for Spring. They will be putting on their work gloves and pulling up their boots to participate in a major clean-up activity throughout the 100-year old, 486-acre park. Portland Parks personnel have planned projects and will direct the work. Men, women and children have been encouraged to work as they are able: heavy (shoveling gravel) medium (digging ivy, spreading bark dust) or light (pruning, raking brush.) Along with dozens of other Portland area projects listed on the usaservice.org website, the community service activity was planned by Obama volunteers gathered at a neighborhood “Change is Coming” meeting in November. Emcye Edwards worked with Portland Parks to arrange the project with neighbor Lisa Brenner coordinating volunteers. Neighborhood businesses have offered to supply edible encouragement. “It’s perfect. Our outgoing President loved nothing more than clearing brush,” Edwards explains. “So, as a form of catharsis and our way of planning for a greener future with President Obama, we’ll be clearing brush, removing detritus, pulling out dead roots - and making way for new growth and vitality. We have some very knotty bushes to cut back and haul away.” The incoming President, First Lady and their children will be doing their part in Washington, DC.

Wish I were able to go out and do some charitable act like Michelle Obama asked people to do but today is the day of the month my husband get his eye injection. He requires all of my attention that day. Sometimes caring begins at home.

Good Day to All. I will be going with my neighbor kids to pick up trash around our town park. MLK speech is so moving. I get those warm fuzzy feelings when ever I hear it. I however think that MLK Dream still has more growth to come forth. It worries me that people think the Dream has been fulfilled. It is awesome that we have come this far, but The Dream is not just about color. It is about Liberty and Justice For All. So as joyous as this moment in time is for America, let us not drop the ball…Equal Rights for all …