inauguration

As mentioned in a previous post, the district has been ramping up for inauguration week/end since election night. It finally arrived, and I am exhausted.

On Friday there was a noticeable influx of visitors and excitement in the area. Downtown and the mall were packed. The streets were overrun with tourists buying all kinds of trinkets labeled with the words "Barack", "Obama", "Hope", or "Change", plus whole lot of hand and foot warmers. Even hot sauce makers got in the act. Regardless, it was a great spectacle. We skipped the big concert on Sunday, but just walking around downtown was a lot of fun, seeing the hordes of people, and tour busses from the other side of the continent, celebrating the impending event.

Tuesday morning I left the apartment at 6am and headed to the mall to meet a few coworkers and friends to view the swearing in ceremony. After leaving my bike with a free bike valet at the Jefferson Memorial and walked to our designated entry area near 1st and C St SW. The fifteen block walk was amazing. I have never seen so many people on the streets. Lines of people to enter the mall in various areas stretched for blocks. While I guess we all knew that that mall would be full, there is a substantial difference between picturing it in your mind and actually seeing it the day of. I eventually made it to the meetup location and after a few hours in a slowly moving packed mass of people, we made it through security before the ceremony officially started.

The long lines facilitated a couple interesting thoughts. First, everyone there knew that they were about to witness history, but it was eerie to think about how we were about to witness what will likely be the most significant political event of our lifetime. Second, as a government employee, it was wonderful to see so many so excited about a process too many have shunned. Third, while I know the event was important, I have no idea what it must feel like for African Americans.

After finding enough space on the Captiol lawn for our little group (if you click on this link and zoom in and center on the Capitol lawn [between the Capitol, the large turquoise-topped building on the far right, and the Capitol reflecting pool, which is the trapezoid shaped green object on the right), we were at what would be at about 6 o'clock), we watched a jumbotron that was showing pictures of the mall. After seeing the first picture panning the entire span, I was speechless. While standing there we knew that there were tons of people in our area, and assumed it was the same throughout, but you couldn't see the forest for the trees. When you are standing on a side street for several hours packed in so close you couldn't even turn your body, all you know is what is a few feet ahead. It was astonishing to actually see the big picture and know that somewhere in that frame, you are one one-thousandanth of a pixel.

Tuesday night we went to our own ball that Lelaine and a few friends put on at a restaurant in our neighborhood. It was a great way to celebrate with friends and close out our inauguration activities. Pics and info to follow from the hostess with the mostest.