WASHINGTON (AP) – Leaving the White House for the last time on Tuesday, President George W. Bush blew a kiss out the window of his presidential limousine, a gesture that capped an eight-year administration marked by two wars, recession and the biggest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

Bush’s exit was bittersweet. He left office with low approval ratings, but he remained upbeat, smiling and joining in the celebration of President Barack Obama’s ascent to rock-star status, even as he faces daunting challenges, especially a depressed economy.

This Inauguration Day was about more than the traditional transfer of presidential power. When Bush clasped Obama’s hand before beginning his journey home to Texas, their handshake marked the first time that the executive branch of government has been handed off to a black president.

If there were any hard feelings between the incoming 47-year-old Democrat and the outgoing 62-year-old Republican, they weren’t apparent in the Bush send-off at the steps of a helicopter on the Capitol grounds where the two men parted ways.

After the inauguration ceremony, many in the crowd at the Capitol cheered loudly and waved goodbye at Bush’s helicopter as it flew over throngs of people gathered on the Mall to witness history.

Citizen Bush lingered only two hours in Washington. From the Capitol, Bush and his family flew to Andrews Air Force Base where he made private remarks to supporters inside a hangar. The Bush family, including former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, then took a flight to Midland, Texas, riding one last time on the familiar blue-and-white presidential aircraft. It was called Special Air Mission 28000 instead of Air Force One since Bush no longer was president.

A crowd of nearly 20,000 people welcomed the Bushes at Centennial Plaza in Bush’s childhood home of Midland – the same place he stopped on his way to the nation’s capital for his own inauguration in 2001. The president’s plane flew low over the plaza, prompting the crowd to wave red-white-and-blue W’s.

“The presidency was a joyous experience, but as great as it was, nothing compares with Texas at sunset,” Bush said.

standing next to his wife. “Tonight I have the privilege of saying six words that I have been waiting to say for a while – It is good to be home.”

Bush, who expects to wake up Wednesday at his 1,600-acre ranch in Crawford, Texas, said he went to Washington with a clear set of principles, and left with them intact.

“I never took an opinion poll to tell me what to think, and I’m coming home with my head held high and a sense of accomplishment,” he said.

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Associated Press writers Betsy Blaney in Midland, Texas, and Liz Sidoti, Philip Elliott, Pam Hess, Matt Barakat, Jennifer Kerr and Mark Sherman in Washington contributed to this report.

AP-ES-01-20-09 1944EST