It’s an Obama miracle!

It was so cool to be in DC during the inauguration, even without a ticket (I had a ticket originally from a friend but when she said it only got you 50 feet closer, I believed it. It was very crowded, like sardines!) As a spectator you could either watch the inauguration speech or the parade but it was not very easy to do both as they had the routes blocked off. I opted for the speech because the wait was soo long and cold. The parade started at 3:30 (I went back to watch it on television and it was of course so exciting but I did not want to be part of the '12 people' deep crowd after being out in the cold for so long). I was right by the Monument, taking photos and there were many young people like myself with video cameras as well. People of all walks of life seemed to be cheering and entranced by the large screen. I watched onscreen the actual oaths on The Mall and enjoyed the music of YoYo Ma and the others. Then when Bush exited, his helicopter went right over all of us! Unfortunately, I was not close enough to actually see Obama and the speakers up close, as right towards the front it was jam packed. I also would not have been able to get out of the crowds for hours.

Walking down Pennsylvania Avenue I could see the line-up of the parade beginning where the marching bands, military soldiers and gunmen were preparing their debut. This area was blocked off so you had to walk all the way to the other side of the area to get to the White House where it ended or even the Capitol Steps where it began. The people waiting for the parade had descended onto the area starting around 7 am…brr, freezing, yet exciting. I then walked in the direction of George Washington University where some of their Inaugural Balls were beginning early. After the speeches and during the luncheon you could hear chatter in the crowds about the possibility of Ted Kennedy collapsing at the luncheon and then when i got back to where we were staying it was confirmed on CNN; the parade was delayed. There were rumors in the crowds of some injuries but i could not tell what was happening. Overall it seemed to be pretty safe. A friend attended the Youth Ball and we met with her later that night – she said it was what she imagined but also seemed like her prom (hehe.) Another friend had a ticket and was dressed in his tux but he showed up a bit too late and there were hoards of young people trying to get in – the Youth Ball was the most popular for people aged 18-34, with Kanye West playing, etc. Another person went to the “Texas State” Ball which is interesting…country music and cowboy boots; (haha.) I ended up just going to bed early because I was so tired from the day. I love to be in exciting celebratory crowds but it is also exhausting! The whole city seemed to be having much fun and I felt lucky to be in close proximity to such history.