Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. today, Americans may wonder how much progress has been made toward realizing his dream, so eloquently stated that steamy August day, 1963, in Washington, D.C. According to a poll done by CNN/Opinion Research, a significant majority of blacks and whites believe that the dream of racial equality has evolved in our society. A full 72% of whites and 61% of blacks are of the opinion that America in 2008 would be accepting of a black President.

According to the same poll, slightly fewer voters, around 63%, believe that we are ready for a woman President. No questions were asked about the likelihood of electing the first Mormon President nor the first multiply-divorced President nor the first septuagenarian President nor the first evangelical minister President. With "change" the new buzzword, it is likely that the chosen candidates will be the "first" in something. It's up to you to help determine what that first will be.

So, Sandwiched Boomers, this is your time to get involved - watch the debates, study the candidates' proposals, learn about their advisors, listen to their speeches, find out about their past actions. Support whomever you think is the best candidate - your choice as a voter may bring to office the next President of the United States.

Leaving the snowy hamlets of New Hampshire behind, the presidential candidates are headed for Michigan and the warmer venues of South Carolina and Florida - all of this before they launch into meeting the voters in the multiple primaries on "super Tuesday," February 5. Based on their results so far, candidates are now re-evaluating strategies, changing staffers or even dropping out of the race completely. Daily, the pollsters and pundits are telling us who is ahead and the spin doctors, why. Is Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama the real agent of change for Democrats? Is John McCain or Mike Huckabee the Republican front runner? How will Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani stage a comeback? It's enough to make your own head spin.

Are you wondering what you, a Sandwiched Boomer, can learn from the candidates as they continue their grueling run for President? The challenges you encounter every day as you take care of your growing children and aging parents may be played out on a smaller stage but they are no less stressful for you. January is a good time for you also to stop and evaluate your own progress toward your goals.

As you have no doubt told your children, you can learn from mistakes as well as from successes. If one choice for the care of your aging parents hasn't worked, re-evaluate that decision and institute your plan B. Deep down, you may know that it is time to make a change, but it is hard to do. That's when you need to gather support from the rest of your family and friends. Stay positive and recognize that you don't have to do it all at once - pace yourself in the process. Draw upon your tenacity and strength as you continue your own march forward, one step at a time.

As the spin doctors continue to review what went right with Hillary Clinton's campaign in New Hampshire, the significant moment seems to be when, exhausted, she choked up, expressing her emotions of frustration, sadness, resignation. The voters saw a person who was not removed and isolated from them, but one who suffered, just as they did, from the complexity of life. Her humanness came through.

Are you afraid to show your own emotions to those around you? As a Sandwiched Boomer you may often be at your wits end, coming to the aid of your ailing parents or growing children. Do you try to protect your family from knowing how hard it is for you? Instead of burying your feelings with a stoic attitude, trust your family and reveal the depth of your feelings to them. You will find that they understand your reactions better when they know more about where you are coming from. And you might even find yourself getting more help and support from those around you as you cope with the stress and challenges you face as a member of the Sandwich Generation. So go ahead and have a good cry, you deserve it. And then let a loved one dry your tears and give you a warm, embracing hug.