Hello, 2009!
It’s really exciting being in D.C. during this moment in history. The entire city is buzzing. Yesterday my husband drove me to work (traffic was horrendous!) and we saw some of the construction/preparations going on at the National Mall:
A view of the Mall January 15, 2009.
Here you can kinda see the Capitol behind the scaffolding.
I have never seen so many portable toilets in all of my life! They look quite funny surrounding the Washington Monument.
This weekned I am going to try to do as many inaugural activities as possible. Sunday is the free concert at the Lincoln Memorial, Monday is Kate Clinton’s “Sage-ing of the White House.” And, of course, Tuesday is the Big Day.
I remember when it was announced that Bush was the projected winner in 2000. I felt defeated. I was 19 and in my sophomore year of college, and had stayed up watching the returns with my dear, dear Republican friend, Katie. After the networks called it for Bush, I called it a night. I walked back to my dorm room and prepared for bed. Then Katie called me and said, “They called it too early. They’re not sure if Bush won Florida.” My hope returned, briefly, until Katherine Harris certified the vote in December. I remember thinking that the storm clouds were gathering, and that it was getting dark. I was sad.
And now I sit here eight years later, typing this at my desk in the heart of Washington, D.C. It feels good to be here to watch the sun come out again.
Tags: Barack Obama, D.C., Inauguration 2009, Kate Clinton, Lincoln Memorial Concert, Sage White House, Washington
January 27, 2009 at 2:24 pm |
The sun has come out, but I think it’s more of an “eye of the storm” kinda thing–the quiet before the second half hits. The problems facing us are incredibly monumental and seem to get worse by the day. I pray that he lives up to his potential, and I pray that we all live up to our responsibilities.