Obama Inauguration Report 2009 - I was there!

My husband, David, and I had the pleasure of witnessing the inauguration of Barak Obama last week. I can't tell you what an incredible day it was. Just as emotional as the Election but in a completely different way. (You can read my reactions to the election here.) With so many people in the city (1.8 million on the mall on Tuesday is what I heard), it could have been crazy. But every single person I walked by was happy, excited, polite, friendly and gracious. I wish DC could be like that all the time!

I was actually able to score two seats in the yellow ticketed area. (Thanks you KS Republican connections. I knew you would come in handy for something eventually.) We live in Foggy Bottom at about 25th and F. Our security checkpoint was around 1st and Constitution. Because of the security perimeter, we had to walk a little out of our way. I think we ended walking about 3 miles each way. So we got up at 6am and headed out at 7am. Certainly a lot easier of a time getting to the ceremony than anyone who had to metro!

Along the way we met lots of out-of-towners. We tried to give them directions when we could, which basically amounted to "follow the crowd." We heard the mall was already filling up, so many people were heading to get seats to the parade. After about an hour of walking we arrived at our security checkpoint. Of course, I assumed that because we had seats we'd get in quickly. I was definitely wrong! We walked up to the yellow security gate to find a line snaking around blocks and blocks. It seemed to never end. Finally found the back and stood in line for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Again, talked to some great people who had come to DC from all over. The only negative experience I had all day was some people cutting in line at the last minute. It didn't help my judging them that they all had floor length mink coats on and talked in those fakey pseudo-British east coast upper class accents. I guess they figured they didn't need to stand in line as long as the plebes had to. But other than that, I have nothing but positive things to say about how everyone in our line comported themselves.

We finally got to our seats around 10:30am. Having seats was awesome. We were sitting on the lawn of the capitol, and could see the entire stage area where all the action took place. We were far enough away, though, that we really couldn’t distinguish individuals people on the stage. Fortunately, there was a giant jumbotron in front of us. So we could see on the screen who was arriving and then squint at the stage and sort of make them out. I believe there were about 100,000 seats, so it was a big crowd sitting down. We did engage in some celebrity spotting. (They had to walk through our section to get to the famous people seating section.) David and I walked by Beyonce and Jay-Z when we were first coming through security. And later when I was walking around to gain some feeling back in my toes, I passed by Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. w00t!

They started showing important people coming in on the jumbotron around 10:45. Some people in the crowd booed when they showed Lieberman. I guess in the seats we were in the middle big group of democrat party faithful, but I still thought it was tacky. Colin Powell got a big cheer, as did Gore and the Clintons. All the living former Presidents, Veeps and their spouses were there. Boy did Bush I look old, but the Carter's were as spry as ever. What is there secret? I want to drink some of that Kool-Aide! Then Cheney comes out in his wheelchair. He kinds of looks like the other, old Jeff Lebowski in "The Big Lebowski." (Little Cheney's Urban Achievers. Ha!) David's theory is that he didn't really hurt his back moving boxes. It's all a big ruse so he doesn't have to stand up when they say "President Obama."

I have to admit, when W. came out I felt sorry for him. There were clearly audible boo's and some people starting singing "na na na na hey hey hey goodbye." So unclassy guys! I mean, I fundamentally disagree with the guy on almost everything and think he lead our country into a big pile o' shit, but I still am respectful of him. Then I quickly forget about all this as Obama comes out, and the cheer of the crowd is almost deafening.

The ceremony itself was amazing. While just being there is something I will remember forever, there are some moments that stand out. My muscles involuntarily started clenching up when Rick Warren began delivering the invocation. However, my rational brain told my emotional brain to stay calm. This was all part of the new Obama era. Must be nice to everyone, especially ones that a large chunk of the American population revere. And to be honest, he is not as bad as some of the fundies. I think there are whole swaths of policy eras like poverty, global human rights, development assistance, etc. that liberals and Rick Warren-type evangelicals can agree on. And his speech wasn't as bad as I was expected. However, I did think it was a little tacky to say the "Our Father" at the end. First off, you're totally alienating anyone who isn't Christian. And second, different denominations of Christians say the Our Father differently, so you're favoring one version. Oh well. As I said, it could have been much worse.

The anticipation kept building as Aretha sang, Biden took his oath of office, and the quartet of famous musicians played a John Williams song (which we found out a couple days later was pre-recorded. Makes perfect sense given how cold it was.) Finally Obama's oath of office! And then the speech. I have to admit, I had to wipe my eyes on multiple times. Man that guy can give a speech. I wonder if the speechwriter kid who's picture was on facebook right after the election behaving inappropriately with a cardboard cutout of Hillary wrote this one? He gets a free pass for future shenanigans if he did. So many memorable lines. My favorite parts so far are "your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy" and "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." I also wanted to cheer when we talked about restoring science to its rightful place. And, of course, as an secular humanist, skeptic, and atheist, I was pleasantly surprised by his recognition of us with the line "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers." (A far cry from previous presidents'. The best we could do was being ignored. The worst was open hostility (like when Bush Sr. said "I don't know that atheists should be regarded as citizens, nor should they be regarded as patriotic. This is one nation under God." Bigot.)

After the incredible speech, David and I decided to start heading towards the exit. As we were walking out we caught the poem, another prayer, and then the national anthem. I'm sure Elizabeth Alexander is a great poet on paper, but she is definitely not a good reader of her own poems. The woman should have taken a speech class in high school! Since we were on our way out, I didn't pay much attention to Lowery's benediction. However, a did giggle at the end when he said "when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right." For some reason, it sounded like it could be a Paul Simon song to me.

The hour walk back home was cold, but I could barely feel through my elation of witnessing what I just saw. We met up with friends for a late lunch in Foggy Bottom. David's sister, Laura, and our friend Barbara, had stayed with us the night before so they wouldn't have to get into the city from the suburbs. They joined us along with my friend Anna and her husband PT, along with my friend Tom and a couple of his friends visiting for the inauguration. Tom is Irish and his friends British, so it was nice to get a non-American perspective on the day. One of them said "welcome back to the civilized world." How true, I thought. How true.

David and I skipped the balls that night and just hung out with my friends Dawn and Megan. I was way too exhausted to party and didn't think I'd be in the mood to walk an hour in an ball gown. So a quiet end to a spectacular day. One that I will remember forever and can tell my kids and grandkids about. I have always loved this country but Tuesday I felt as proud to be an American as I ever had. But now it's time to stop celebrating and get to work!