Lovely Open Letters to Our President-Elect

As a Minnesotan I've got a lot of affection for Garrison Keillor. He wrote a nice toast to the Obamas this week. An excerpt below, and the whole thing here.

Get on that treadmill every morning. Keep a daily journal. Let us see those darling girls once in a while. Please don't play golf. Don't get a dog. Enjoy Camp David. Be happy. Don't hire people to tell you how to dress or who to be; you're a grown-up. Don't do crap that someday you'd have to go on TV and make cheesy apologies for. This job is one you were cut out to do and a big part of the job is to keep up the national morale and you are already doing that big-time. And thank you, sir. All those cheap motels, all those flights, all of that chip dip. We are deeply grateful.

Also, from a different perspective, a beautiful open letter to Barack from Alice Walker at The Root. A sample:

Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.