It has been a week since I had the privilege of seeing and hearing my President take the oath of office. And believe it or not I’m still reveling in the experience.
If you will allow me to set the stage for you…
The weekend leading up to Tuesday felt like one long and incredibly joyous celebration. It was as if every single person was in one accord.
The District was booming with networking opportunities, dinner parties, and a sleuth of other fun activities. It was quite interesting seeing Hollywood Stars, Congressmen & women and Washingtonians all mingling with one another.
On Sunday morning my roommate, Tatiana (not her real name) and I went to the Inaugural Opening Concert at the Lincoln Memorial. The air was crisp, and although a tad bit cloudy the temperature was not as cold as anticipated. The concert was to begin at 2:30pm. The gates opened at 8:30am and since we overslept, we didn’t arrive till about 2 hours later.
Determined to find good standing room Tatiana and I rode a taxi. We were desperately praying our miscalculated nap would not keep us from getting a decent glimpse of Beyonce. We asked the driver to take us, “As close as possible to the Lincoln Memorial.”
Once we got out of the cab we basically ran straight to the memorial zooming pass the EEOB, DAR Constitution Hall, the Red Cross building and the White House. Once we arrived at one of the four check points we were searched by Marine officers.
The checkpoint went by quickly and smoothly although I was a bit irritated at this point. The official Inaugural website stated not to bring certain items (i.e. lounge chairs, bags…etc.) but when we got to the concert we noticed so many people who hadn’t followed the rules but were still allowed to keep their items. Not that I didn’t want them to partake in the experience, I was just frustrated at being inconvenienced only to find out the warnings weren’t to be heed.
However that rude awakening did not stop us from having beau-coup fun.
We again started zooming past everyone in our path, we past the World War II Memorial and then gradually inched our way close to the front of the crowd. Amazingly our view was perfect. We were situated right next to the first big screen TV on the Left hand side (if you’re facing the Lincoln Memorial).
All around us people were laughing, mingling, and having a grand old time. Some people started to climb trees and porter potties (EWWW) to get a better view.
About an hour into our waiting Tatiana started to get hungry. In the rush of leaving our house that morning we didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast. So Tatiana braved the increasing crowds to go get us some brunch.
Meanwhile I try to inch my way closer to the stage. Imagine the scene, no breathing room, everyone in close proximity and in each other’s personal space. Luckily no one really cares because we are all so excited to be there. And more importantly were excited that others want to be there as well.
The crowd is so big that cell phone services cannot handle the number of people trying to use the internet or make phone calls at the same time. Yet still the mood is festive and jolly.
Nearly 2 hours have elapsed since Tatiana has left me to get us food. While there she is asked by a photographer of the Official Inaugural Committee to pose for a picture for their website.
Later she informs me, about 30 minutes before the concert is due to start she leaves her place in line, goes to the front and asked a couple there, “If I give you $20 will you let me cut you in line.”
Amazingly enough they tell her she doesn’t have to pay them but she can still get in front of them.
So, to the wonderful couple who let the young woman cut you in the food line on the day of the concert: “THANK YOU SO MUCH!”
But that’s how the day was, people being kind and generous to one another. Tatiana finally made it back to where I was standing right when the concert is due to start. And as they introduced our then soon be First and Second Family the crowd went bananas.
Before the announcer could finish her statement, “Ladies and gentlemen the next President and First Lady of the United States of America.” Everyone jumped up and down, screaming and chanting, “OBAMA, OBAMA” or “YES WE CAN, YES WE CAN.”
Tatiana and I are trying to stuff our faces with the hot dogs, cookies, lays potato chips and the hot chocolate she bought. Can you imagine the scene of our stuffed mouths while jumping and screaming? Needless to say it was priceless.
Everyone is snapping pictures and then out comes Denzel Washington to begin the ceremonies…
Every part of the concert was absolutely fantastic. The ode to President Lincoln was genius, Bono got political, the Obama’s danced along with many of the artist, Jamie Foxx’s small monologue was so hilarious, Malia was snapping pictures on her own digital camera from her amazing seats, and while Garth Brooks brought the house down with his three musical selections; I could not help but to step back and take it all in.
I looked behind me and could see a sea of people going back past the Washington Monument. At that moment remembered how wonderful and beautiful and majestic (despite how imperfect) our nation is.
The concert was about two hours long and although many stood in the same spot for hours, everyone walked away with smiles on their faces.
Walking back home, I was struck by yet another scene. It was when everyone was leaving the concert walking down 17th street going past Constitution. Clearly we were not all headed to the same destination but it looked that way.
And right then and there I wished that the energy I was feeling at that moment could spread across the country. That somehow a natural instinct could propel our nation forward. And together as one people, despite our differences, we could still work together toward a common purpose; a better America.
That oneness and unity continued to Monday. Monday was deemed National Service day and in addition to the community service activities being held all over the city, my University in collaboration with Director Spike Lee and Dr. Cornell West held a daylong symposium focusing on America’s future. It was a great feeling knowing all over the country people were simultaneously working together to serve their communities.
And then it was Tuesday, the day so many of us had been waiting for. It was brisk out but not as cold as Inauguration ‘05. We (Tatiana, my friend Naomi and I) woke up late, again. We had hoped to get to the National Mall before the sun had risen, but we did not arrive till 11:30am.
Frantically we tried to get to the National Mall but all the streets were blocked. I was starting to get a bit upset. Here I was in the heart of it all and I wouldn’t be able to get a glimpse or hear anything.
Most of the police officers we met gave us contradiction information. At one point we almost went down the now famous Purple Tunnel of Doom, but decided against it last minute.
Time was running out, it was almost noon and we wanted to see our President being sworn in. While others gave up we pressed forward and finally found an obscured and deserted check point on 3rd and C. As we were frisked and made our way in, a wave of relief and excitement flooded my body. I am here, I made it; I can be a witness of this historic event and I will have a story to tell others who were not able to see it firsthand.
We made our way to the Canadian embassy which is located at the intersection of Constitution and Pennsylvania. And as we walked through the crowd we could sense that the time had arrived. The oath of office was moments from being spoken.
Although the Capital building was in our view we couldn’t really see the podium. So we, along with the rest of the crowd, looked on a large screen (which was provided by the Canadian Embassy).
And as the words, “…so help me God,” escaped our Presidents lips the crowd went wild. I could hear a wave of cheers coming from all over the mall moving toward my direction. Tears started flowing down Tatiana and Naomi’s faces. We were hugging each other and I think even strangers. I surprised myself as to how happy I felt at that moment.
And time seemed to stand still. Everyone seemed to forgot how cold it was as we stood there in solidarity, earnestly listening as the 44th President of the United States of America give his first national address.
No one spook, only the occasional nodding of the head could be seen and the sporadic cheering, after certain statements were made, could be heard.
Again there was a oneness in the atmosphere. His speech resonated with my soul… for me it was a call to action…
“In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned” –President Obama
….and I knew then as I believe now, no matter how small it may seem, I have to do my part in being a better person, by being a good friend, neighbor and daughter to every single person who comes into my life.
Two extremely cold hours passed before the parade began, but we waited. I was determined to see my first family… even if it was through the tinted Windows of their pimped-out Cadillac Limousine.
We met a lot of nice people as those two long and grueling hours past. One couple from Maine and some police officers from the Miami Police department. We tried to make the best of the time we had by chanting and making light of the weather.
And when the first family finally did drive by, it was all so worth it. We left immediately and disappeared into a local pub to warm up with hot beverages and to watch the rest of the Parade.
The streets were chaotic after that, people trying to get to the balls the secret service all over the place. But despite that hectic scene, it was still a good feeling and cheery time in the District.
So here you have it folk’s every last detail of my awesomely fantastic Inaugural weekend.
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