Courtesy New York Times

Every Sunday, regardless of my schedule, I make time to call my parents to talk. In what’s become a routine, my mom and I recount our past week and my dad and I discuss our favorite New Yorker articles and how the St. Louis Rams can’t seem to win games anymore. Recently, though, my mom has started reminding me that I was the first person to tell them about this man named Barack Obama. “You said we should keep an eye out for him,” she’ll say, to which I usually reply with an “I told you so.” This always gets me thinking about what ties a family together–both my parents in St. Louis and the small family I’ve made in New York. And ultimately back to Barack and Michelle Obama, with their daughters Sasha and Malia.

Never before have I witnessed a couple of the first office that clearly loves each other so much. Think about the Reagans, think about both Bushes, think about the Clintons. Sure, there was love there (at least some of the time), but none were as strongly amorous as Barack and Michelle. He told their tender story in his book The Audacity of Hope, and now we watch it unfold month by month, day by day.

We’ve witnessed their bond through subtle (and not-so-subtle) looks. Michelle’s face as her husband stumbled upon John Roberts’ miss-recitation of the Oath of Office was priceless. As she held the Bible, her eyes were fixed on Barack, no doubt recalling emotions and memories that only the two of them share. She looked as if she wanted to laugh out loud and give him a hug. He remained composed, though you could tell he wanted to turn his gaze to his left to let her now he’d get through it OK.

Later as the galas began, Barack seemed in awe. ”First of all, how good looking is my wife?” he said at The Neighborhood Ball. As the crowd roared, Obama looked proudest to be standing beside the love of his life (forget that he’d been inaugurated president).

Barack Obama represents hopes and dreams for many. But for me, more than anything, he and his wife show that love–and not in the manner of what you might call “traditional values”–can strengthen a family. The Obamas make me emo. And maybe that’s exactly what we all need.