Obama walks in his old neighbourhood in Hawaii thinking of his Grandma.

[mystieus]

HONOLULU - OCTOBER 24: Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) takes a walk in his old neighborhood during a visit with his ailing grandmother Madelyn Dunham October 24, 2008 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Obama has cancelled two days of campaigning an has returned to Honolulu to visit his ailing grandmother.

[Curtland1015]

1. Oh God, how heart breaking is that?

:cry:

[silverweb]

2. You're not alone, Barack.

All of us are with you in spirit.

[musicblind]

3. Wow, we're about to have a president who can pull of wearing flip flops.

Though the news about his grandmother is very sad :(

[greenmutha]

11. Not flip-flops...

Nobody in Hawaii calls 'em that; they are called "slippers." (Just FYI.) :hug:

[RichardRay]

13. 50 years ago they were 'zoris'.

At least on the windward side of Oahu before the puka in the Pali made it a suburb of Honolulu.

[babylonsister]

36. They will always be flip-flops to me and that's about all I wear.

I'm going to be repeating myself but I wish they'd all LEAVE BARACK ALONE!

[MrMickeysMom]

40. Hi babylonsister... I used to wear em all the time when living in FL...

I'm not sure who took these photos, but they seem very meaningful to me.

The first thing I thought of when seeing him on his own was, "this is really a historical moment where Barack Obama prepares to BE the future he wants. It was a full circle in memory or (Toot?) telling him he could BE anything.

I'm trying to follow his example, having said my own good-bye to my mom some little time back before stepping into a local race and now a similar role (local govt).

Too hokey???

[babylonsister]

45. Toot did a wonderful job of raising this man; I hope she knows how

much he means to so many of us. And not hokey at all! :hug:

[polichick]

4. He's doing what he needs to do - God bless them both!

[buff2]

5. That is so sad

He needs a big :hug: My heart goes out to him.

[hogwyld]

8. Barack, here's one from all of us!

:grouphug:

[buff2]

10. Amen to that

:grouphug:

[ogneopasno]

6. What an amazing photo.

He is so...human.

[mystieus]

30. yeah, its nice

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. I've been there

I know that walk...... when my mom was in the hospital
the last two weeks.

Revealing photo

[nini]

15. Yep..

:cry:

[Heather MC]

46. Yeah I was thinking, it's the "things are never going to be the same again walk"

Been there

[tekisui]

9. It is sad that he is there with his grandmother sick,

but is that the only place in this country he can find peace? It must be like a little retreat for him to go there.

[DearAbby]

12. I wish MammaAbby could hug you....

but I am in my heart. Healing thoughts to your family Senator.

[Lars39]

14. I wish Michelle could have gone with him.

Even the strongest can use a spouse's presence at times like these. :(

[MrMickeysMom]

41. But, maybe these times are best experienced the only way you can-

... on your own.

Besides, when hearing Michelle again (I can't believe some people find her hard to like), I can sense that their bond is strong enough to reach around the world.

[RichardRay]

16. That's what I did while my father was dieing last year.

There's something therapeutic about just pacing the ground around the neighborhood and seeing life continuing. It helps with the helplessness.

[Misskittycat]

17. Looks real elite, doesn't it. (Sarcasm)

[uponit7771]

18. Is that him!?!? Damn, that's touching... You sure that's him?!?

[mystieus]

20. Positive.

[Median Democrat]

19. One May Run For President, But Life's Events Remind Us Of Our Mortality...

and the shortage of time we have to leave the world in a better place.

[RoadRage]

21. He look so uppity..

Wearing the thongs & jeans, walking by himself in a middle class neighborhood. :sarcasm:

I can not wait to vote for this man. Can't wait. CAN NOT WAIT.

Tuesday. WHOO HOO!!

[Vinca]

22. Makes you wish you could give him a big hug. nt

[kwenu]

23. He's reflecting on where he has come from and where he is now destined to go.

[tilsammans]

24. You can really see . . .

. . . how troubled he is over his grandma's condition.

:grouphug:

[lady raven]

25. I feel like they shouldn't have published these photos. They seem like an intrusion. n/t

[nini]

27. I agree

He needs to just get away....

I also fear for him being out like that.

Poor guy :-(

[FatDave]

37. He's probably safer there than most other places.

And there's probably secret service just out of frame.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

26. When Abraham Lincoln left Illinois in the spring of 1961

he said goodbye to his mother Sarah and then never saw her again.

I've been thinking of that a lot lately.

Barack must be a tangled up mess of emotions right now.

[liberal renegade]

28. 1961?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

33. Forget it, he's rolling

:rofl:

[RollWithIt]

38. He meant 1861....

When he left to head to Washington.

[RayOfHope]

29. My grandma died last year at this time. I lived with her during my college years.

Barack: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[TheDonkey]

31. He looks very sad. Wish him and his family well during a tough time.

[Top Cat]

32. My heart goes out to him I know how he feels....

I lost a love one this time last year and it is very hard to say goodbye.

[President Decider]

34. Those photos are powerful. Show a man reflecting in his mind which nourishes the body and soul

For those of us who moved far away from where we grew up, you know what I'm talking about. I truly believe in the theraputic value of going back to my old neighborhood every few years to clear my head and remember who I am and what I'm all about. It's truly a humbling experience ... you all should try it sometime. You become stronger as a result.

[SKKY]

35. To quote Liverpool, "You'll never walk alone."

[ecstatic]

39. Is Toot his last family tie to Hawaii? nt

[nini]

42. I believe his sister is there

>

[WritingIsMyReligion]

43. See that librul elitist neighborhood he's from, everyone?

:eyes::eyes:

:hug: to you, sir.

:cry:

[K Gardner]

44. That was my first thought upon seeing these pictures.