As you know I was at the Inauguration of the greatest American President-elect of 2008-2009. I left Ada with 2 friends at about 11 Monday morning and we began our trip to Washington. At 9 that night we arrived in the Brookland neighborhood, where a couch and floor space awaited us for $60 a person (Craigslist is fun). The house was nice enough and a mere 3 blocks from the Metro. We went to sleep knowing that it was the last night we would sleep with George Bush watching over us.

We woke up at 5AM Tuesday, and set out for the mall at 6. It was pretty crazy, worse than Denver (did you know I went to Denver?). We had silver tickets, which are kinda like sitting behind the scoreboard at riverfront stadium, yeah they aren't that great but you are in the building and they sure do beat standing room only. We got off the subway and saw a sign pointing to the silver gate. That was the last sign we saw as we wandered around lost and confused. The DC cops were pretty worthless, I asked one cop how to get to the silver gate and he said "you are know where close to where you need to be". He then said the same thing on his blow horn and walked away. So we eventually found the line to our gate at 8, 2 hours after we left the house. The line was pretty long, snaking down a few city blocks, but we got through security at 9. Security was surprising, at Denver they had TSA agents screen people and bags, they had the metal detectors and x-ray machines. They only frisked us to get into the mall. We packed in like sardines.

It was a very festive atmosphere. at 10something the music started. It included some children's choir, Yo Yo Ma, and Aretha Franklin. The politicians started coming out. Joe Liberman was heavily booed. The jumbotron had footage from a camera inside the Capitol so we could see the people as they walked up. Michelle Obama had to be confused, she walked out as the camera was on Cheeney I think, so she walked outside to sea of boos. Cheeney was wheeled out which was fun. When Bush came out the whole crowd was singing Hey hey hey good bye. McCain received light applause to light booing. I was silent. I respected McCain until he choose Sarah Palin. If she would have been there she might have been reduced to tears, the crowd was a bit vicious. Finally Obama came out. He received quite the welcome. Obama was sworn in, and made it through Roberts mistake. It was amazing to be there for that. Then there was the speech. He delivered an excellent speech. It was balanced, it was optimistic in its ends but realistic in its means. I wept a little bit during his speech.

I think the best part of the day was after his speech. It was very festive. People from all over the country and world (we talked to a woman from Ireland), just milled around. The reflecting pool was frozen and I along with many other people walked on it. After I got off the ice there was a large circle of people holding hands just slowly spinning, and the circle kept getting bigger and bigger. People were climbing on the statues. It was touching to see so many people this excited about a President. I don't know if there was ever a time when America was as excited and supportive of a President as now, maybe Reagan??? But 8 and 4 years ago most of America was bitter. I know that there are some people who do not and never will like Obama, but I feel like even many of the people who voted for McCain are going to give Obama a chance. Around 3 we left the Mall and started back to the house, got there at 4, left at 4:30, and made it back to Ada at 1:30

Picture of me and my friend with Lincoln. 

SNIPERS

George H.W. Bush

Nah Nah Nah Nah  Nah Nah Nah Nah, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye.

President Obama spoke and we could walk on water.

via i708.photobucket.com