Our Inaugural Experience
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January 25, 2009 at 3:23 am
Living in Washington, we reap many, many benefits living in the district limits of our nation’s capital. We’ll call them the 3 Ms (museums, monuments, Metro … Metro?). Along the way, we have been creating a fourth M, memories (how cheesy is this opening?).
I could not let us get too far along without logging in our Inauguration experience. Not that I would instantaneously dispose of all of the memories that we accrued very recently, I think I have had proper time to put the event into its rightful context.
It is probably best to recant the event but I guess I would be remiss to point out the significance of the moment. Truly this was a momentous mark in time, regardless of your political stance, and it was truly an honor and a privilege to have this opportunity to be a participant. I do not think I need to spell out the reasoning for the uniqueness of the swearing in of our 44th President. If I do, obviously you have been living under a rock.
Inauguration: T-Minus One
After hearing second hand from blogs, friends, and Jim Vance about the growing excitement and crowds surrounding the Inaugural events, we decided to check things out first hand. Meaning, we ambled down to the National Mall to scope things out. I was using it as a time to reflect on the next day and scout out how many people may actually grace the Mall grounds. We also wanted to get our one chance to sit on some official portable parade bleachers.
You knew you were getting close to Ground Zero as you slowly made our way down towards the beginning of the alphabet. How did you know? The increasing number of Obama merchandise vendors, who were shilling everything from scarves to hats to shirts to skateboard decks, gradually increased like rabbits. I never saw these things though.
Realizing the notion we would probably not be getting very close to the Capitol, Brittany and I decided to go check out the seating area past the Teddy and the frozen tundra formerly known as the Capitol reflecting pool.
If you know Brittany (and I know her pretty well) you know she hates a few things. One is frogs. The other is spontaneity. So, much to my disbelief, she hopped over a security rail with me to get a better look at things (as well as snap a picture for a complete stranger or two).
Inauguration Day: Barack ‘N Roll
I stole this subhead title from a t-shirt. So, please do not think of me as witty or of clever prose. Although, I have been labeling various second iterations of photo albums as “Barack ‘N Roll Part II”. Much like the Gary Glitter song.
We arose around 6:00 and after rounding up the troops (our friends the Hendersons had spent the night), we left on foot for the Mall. We traipsed down K Street and then around 14th where we made the mistake of going south. Not wanting nor having the desire or need to wait in line for Parade pat-downs, we retraced our steps back to K, over to 18th, and down to the Washington Monument. Not satisfied with our perch (we couldn’t even make out the Dome) we pushed onward until we reached a patchy spot of grass behind the National Museum of American History.
From then on out we played what we like to call “The Waiting Game”. This involved freezing, standing, sitting, small talk, and lamenting not wearing more layers. Somewhere in between, Brittany went to retrieve some hot chocolate. In the time it took to stand in line, order, pay, and walk back to where Robert and I were waiting, that hot chocolate evolved into something more along the lines of warm chocolate. Of course, Brittany and Deidra were reduced to playing a large, live-action game of Where’s Waldo before we got our drinks. But enough about luke-warm beverages …
When the ceremonies finally started, the excitement started to build. There was palpable buzz all day.
I will say, despite the good will and warm, fuzzy patriot pride, the Mall was left trashed. So, shame on not only the people who left the litter, but whomever planned the trash receptacle layout. There was not enough and those that were present, we too scattered.
(Additional photos can be found on my flickr page)
Not to mention, the only way home was up 18th Street which became a “River of Humanity” for a good mile and a half.
I sincerely believe our country is in good, capable hands. It seems like yesterday Brittany and I were sitting on my couch in Athens watching Mr. Obama announce his intentions to run for President on a live, streaming feed on CNN.com. And just a little further back, I was sitting on my futon watching him deliver the keynote at the Democratic Convention where he called on the need for change and unity despite partisan lines.
Although, I do not expect (nor should I or anyone) that President Obama will provide instant relief to the problems we face. He is not the end-all, be-all, he is not our savior. He is human and has his shortcomings. At least he’s not making outlandish predictions (yet).
All in all, the Inauguration was (apologies for the cliché) a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One that will not be forgotten and one that will be continually inspiring to us.
Tonight I was sitting at Busboys and Poets and read an excerpt off the menu from a Langston Hughes poem (B&P got its namesake from Mr. Hughes) and thought it to be profound for the times. Although the actual context of the poem is about inequality and a call for civil rights, I thought it was applicable our recent events.
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
