A Change of Heart About the White House

The White House was never a place she wanted to be. As a young woman, she resented the attention and the loss of privacy that came with living there.

A Reluctant Visitor

She remembered the first time she stepped inside, assigned to attend an inaugural ball. A ball gown and a hairdresser were waiting, but all she wanted was her old life back, free from armed agents and reporters.

Over the years, she visited many times, but she never truly saw it. She was too focused on her own feelings to appreciate the history around her. Even when her family's dog, Rex, barked at what her father claimed was Lincoln's ghost, she didn't feel the magic. She just wanted to leave.

A Change of Heart

Years later, after her father's death, she returned for a memorial service. This time, she saw the White House differently. She felt the history in the marble floors and the hushed activity. She learned about the changes made by different presidents and first ladies. She was in awe, finally seeing the place for what it was: a home to many stories and a symbol of the nation's journey.

The Demolition

Now, seeing the East Wing being demolished is heartbreaking. Sure, buildings need repairs, but this feels like more than that. It's not just bricks and plaster; it's a place that holds the spirit of the people and their ideals. It's a place that makes you feel small yet connected to something bigger. It's a place where history feels alive.

A Grateful Reflection

She's grateful she got a second chance to see the White House with new eyes, free from her old resentments. But now, that part of history is gone, and no one else will get to experience it the way she did. It was where Eleanor Roosevelt walked and Jacqueline Kennedy planned the Rose Garden. It was a piece of the nation's story, and now it's just a memory.