Just one more hour, and the presidency of George W. Bush will end. Just one more hour, and the history of the world will be altered forever. Just one more hour, and Barack Obama's name will be in every history book, every living memory of our generation, and his portrait, finally, will be in the updated version of that white, plastic ruler I bought, several years ago, while on an excursion to Washington, D.C… the one with the chronology of U.S. presidents.

Just think. One more hour.

It is 11:14 am. A large knot of librarians and students, in the high school library where I am currently situated, has gathered in front of the flat-screen TV. The transfer of power is due to occur at 12:00 pm. We're all waiting.