The last time the family -- Obama, first lady Michelle, Malia, 11 and Sasha, 8 -- were back at their home on South Greenwood was over Valentine's Day weekend 2009. Obama made two quick day trips last summer, not staying overnight.
If anyone thought that the Kenwood community would host a Chicago
White House -- and some people did -- well, they were very disappointed.
I'm told the Obama family is planning a casual weekend with friends.
President Obama will throw in some work; on Monday, Obama will deliver a
Memorial Day address at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in
Elwood, near Joliet, about 50 miles south of Chicago.
When Obama was elected, he envisioned frequent visits back home that never materialized. In December 2008, then President-elect Obama said he expected to return "as often as possible, my expectation would be that, depending on what my schedule looks like, you know, we're going to try to get back here at least once every six weeks or couple of months."
It turned out that the first couple was so eager to embrace Washington -- and get Sasha and Malia settled in a new school with new friends -- that Chicago visits just never happened. Besides, the Chicago pals -- of the Obamas and their kids' friends -- were just as happy to hang at the White House or Camp David, the presidential retreat. Last summer, Chicago buddy Marty Nesbitt and his family even rented a place in Washington for a short time just to be nearby.
The Obama home will be a historic site whether or not the Obamas ever live there full time again. Last January, I asked Mrs. Obama why they never came home. She said, "Just tell Chicago, 'nothing personal.' It's kids."
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