Alone on his 49th birthday, President Barack Obama fled the empty White House mansion¹ and headed for a more intimate celebration with longtime friends in his Chicago hometown.

美国总统贝拉克·奥巴马日前独自迎来49岁的生日。当天，奥巴马离开空荡荡的白宫官邸，前往芝加哥老家与老友们团聚，共庆生日。

Marine² One helicopter on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, prior to traveling to Chicago." src="http://www.enread.com/upimg/allimg/100807/4_100807062303_1.jpg" width="399" height="285" />
President Barack Obama points to visitors singing 'Happy Birthday' to him as he walks with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel towards Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, prior to traveling to Chicago.

Obama has been living a bachelor's life for the past several days with first lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha visiting Spain and daughter Malia spending the month away at an undisclosed（未泄露的） camp.

Before leaving Washington on Wednesday afternoon with the family dog, Bo, Obama got a couple of presents he didn't have to unwrap（打开） and which the White House described as being the highlight of his day: telephone calls from the women in his life.

Mrs. Obama and Sasha phoned in their happy birthday wishes, followed by a lunchtime call from Malia.

"Needless to say ... both those calls were the highlights（拔萃，集锦） of his day," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters who traveled with Obama aboard Air Force One.

Obama's Secret Service detail got him a present, though Gibbs would describe it only as "heartfelt（衷心的，真诚的） ."

As the presidential motorcade（车队） pulled closer to his house in Hyde Park, neighbors lined the street to welcome him home with waves and signs, including "Happy 49th Birthday President Barack Obama" and "Happy Birthday Mr. President."

Obama's birthday — though a year short of the milestone³ 5-0 — also was viewed in this election year as a prime fundraising opportunity for Democrats⁴, who fear losing their hold on both houses of Congress come November.