01.20.2009

The alarm goes off with a loud shrilly noise and my first thought for 1.20.09 is that the bloody alarm could wake the dead! It's 4am and I need to get up and haul ass into the shower if I am to make it for the inauguration.  It's cold and I'm warm and comfy under the goose down comforter.  I spend the next half hour fighting with myself.  For every pro I listed, I could come up with 2 cons. Finally the adventurous side of me hauls butt outta bed.

5am. I'm now in my car heading towards DC armed with a huge cuppa coffee ~ strong~ and dressed like a baby eskimo! I park in the WB garage, which is just a couple of blocks from the National Mall.  Saved me the otherwise nightmare of having had to take the Metro in, which by the way, I later find out that 900,000 people rode that day, packed in like sardines in a tin can.

So I park and start my walk to the Mall. It's still dark out but there are already tons of people on the streets heading in the same direction towards Capitol Hill.  We first pass the Monument and here is the first Jumbotron.  Naah, still too far away from the action.  Continue walking I shall. I see the Capitol looming closer.  There's strong presence of security of all branches.  Snipers are seen on all roof tops and that's a fair number coz after all the National Mall is flanked by the smithsonian museum buildings.

I find my spot and already at 5.30ish it's packed.  We are standing shoulder to shoulder, not the place to be if you have an issue with personal space.  I meet people who have come from California, Texas and even as far as New Zealand. Spirits are high and the energy levels are electrifying. One could not help but get drawn into it.  I went initially to be an observer of a historical event but as minutes passed took on  a sense of pride for the country I had now resided in for almost 10 years.  So, I'm there singing, dancing, chanting and talking up a storm with fellow supporters trying very hard to shut out the cold which was beginning to twine its icy fingers around my toes and fingers.  Being frost bitten was not what I wanted to remember of 01.20.09!

The concert begins at the Lincoln Memorial to lots of cheers as it signifies the beginning of the days events.  I can feel the excitement build around and in me.  There's a bit of a lull during events where by I go buy that cuppa coffee I have been dying for and of course that means losing my spot ~ not that I would ever have been able to get back to it!

Capitol Hill is all abuzz.  Bush makes his entrance to a sea of boos.  I feel sorry for the guy.  Obama makes his entrance and by jove, one would have thought it was the second coming of the Lord! It's an overwhelming feeling. I could hear women around me swooning over how 'fine' Obama looked :0). i had to smile and nod in agreement coz he sure as hell did look stately and dignified as he made his entrance.  The much anticipated swearing in took place with a little mistake which made it all the more humane.  2 million people cheered and alternated between screaming "Obama!" and "Yes, we can!" His speech got the attention of not only the American people but the World.  All major issues were addressed and hope and faith is once more instilled.

Now while Obama and his guest sit down for their luncheon, during which Ted Kennedy collapses, thousands of us try to find a way to exit the Mall.  I don't know who was the super genius behind strategizing exit plans but this was by far the worse.  God help us if there had been a threat or anything as serious as such.  Chaos and mayhem would have ruled the day.  An hour and a half later, I am back in the NW quardrant of DC. By this time I'm knackered, cold and cold :) but extremely thrilled at having been apart of this momentous occasion.