So Close

In 1984, when Walter Mondale named Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, the enormity of the moment overtook my dad.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day," he said, choking up.

His reaction left a huge impression on me because it had never occurred to me that a woman couldn't be Vice President—or President, for that matter.

But my father was born in 1926, and he knew just how momentous a milestone this was.

How I wish he had lived to see Barack Obama elected President.

I know just how he would have greeted the news—with disbelief, with joy, and with deep pride in his country.

He would have marveled at the trajectory of this man's life and considered himself blessed to have witnessed this moment in American history.

And I have no doubt that he'd have been smitten with Michelle Obama and especially with Malia and Sasha.

It breaks my heart that Madelyn Dunham did not get to see her grandson's triumph, that she missed it by a single day. But I bet she is smiling down on the President-elect, and I know she's in good company up there.