President-elect Barack Obama bid a lonely and emotional farewell to his Hyde Park home Sunday afternoon as he left Chicago to join his wife and daughters in taking up residence in Washington, D.C.
After boarding a government Boeing 757 at Chicago's Midway airport, Obama met Col. Scott Turner, who will be his chief Air Force One pilot, and visited with the small press pool on board.
"Well guys, I am looking forward to seeing you guys in Washington," Obama told them. "I gotta say, I choked up a little bit leaving my house today."
"Malia's friend had dropped off an album of the two of them together," he continued. "They had been friends since pre-school, and I just looked through the pages, and the house was empty and it was a little tough, it got me."
Girls Arrived Saturday
Michelle Obama and their girls – Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7 – arrived in Washington on Saturday to get settled into a hotel across from the White House in advance of starting classes Monday at the private Sidwell Friends school.
On Jan. 15, they move into the presidential guest quarters at Blair House and, after Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20, into the White House.
Obama, who uncharacteristically ordered a cheeseburger for his in-flight dinner, said Mrs. Obama and the girls were "having fun" in their five-star temporary home.
"Although living in a hotel for two weeks, we kind of did that for two years" on the campaign trail, he added.
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