I know I’m very late to the game on this book, but I recently listened to the Michelle Obama memoir, Becoming, and am completely obsessed anew with her.
Damn – how far we have fallen in terms of the quality of FLOTUS…
The book, originally published in 2018 with the audio released that same year, takes the reader from Michelle’s childhood through early in the first Trump presidency, a span of years which I also experienced, albeit in a different world than the south side of Chicago and the White House.
I remember the sudden rise of the previously unknown to me presidential candidate, with the odd name, from Chicago. Those were hectic times in my life with three young sons and a full time job, but the cultural references, historical events and political players described by Michelle were all familiar to me.
In my own way, I, too, was there.
As I listened to the 18+ hour audiobook, read by FLOTUS, I was repeatedly struck both by how different things are now under the current MAGA regime and by how many similar thoughts Michelle and I share.
I just know we’d be friends if we ever met in real life.
Listening to this book at this time in our country’s history is, at times, jarring. Hearing about the hoops Michelle Obama had to leap through to be able to devote a portion of the White House’s South Lawn to a vegetable garden feels particularly ridiculous in light of the fact that the current resident of 1400 Washington Ave has ripped out a historic rose garden and torn down an entire wing of the property.
Make that make sense.
Apparently, Oprah Winfrey once sent Miche a box of Ralph Lauren clothing as a gift. immediately returned because elected officials aren’t supposed to accept valuable gifts.
Except for incredibly expensive planes, of course.
I related to Michelle as a woman, but also quite deeply as a Mom. The value she places upon nurturing family and the consistent display of humor, intelligence and resilience all resonated for me. Her thoughts on gun violence, common sense gun laws, and immigrants also rang for me.
As the book neared its conclusion, Michelle stated* that
“the Presidency doesn’t change who one is, it reveals who one is.”
As a person who often wonders wtf happens to people when they gain an office of power, what makes them so willing to be unethical and completely self absorbed?, I find some comfort in that thought.
Michelle Robinson Obama beautifully expressed her experiences, beliefs and thoughts in Becoming and I’m a better person for having heard them. Mishe is a class act and, in my opinion, one of the finest First Ladies of all time.
Becoming friends with her has been my pleasure.
*she may have been quoting someone else.
Alma Thomas
DelSo 