Crowds filled the entire Mall, with estimates of close to 2 million. We were about a mile from the actual proceedings. (Click photo for larger view - Jewel Samad-AFP/Getty Images)
We left our hotel this frigid morning by the light of the crescent moon. 22 degrees at 5:02. Finally the Big Day had arrived and we were jazzed.
When we returned 14 hours later, the temperature had only warmed up to 25. (Just kidding, it actually peaked at 30 out there on the National Mall).
Those of you who watched the Inauguration on TV are probably wondering “What was it like to be there?” There’s a whole lot to tell about and I want to… I set up this whole blog project just so I could! But, honestly, it will probably take at least a day for me to begin formulating my thoughts, feelings, impressions, and questions. So the short answer to your question is “It was AWESOME!!!!”
Like one young man had written on the back of his T-shirt: “We’re freezin’ for a reason!”
He got that right! And I’ve gotta get some sleep. I promise tomorrow I’ll blog more about what happened. In the meantime, here are a few pix from this amazing day in American history:
Crammed into the Metro with 2000 others. It took us about three hours to get to DC. Normally it takes about 1/2 an hour.
Three Obamas walk to the National Mall.
Lots of emotion the moment President Obama took the Oath of Office.
Much more about the inauguration later. Suffice it to say that we are SO pleased, proud, relieved, inspired, delighted, and hope-filled because of our new President. The man is a once in a lifetime leader and America and the world needs him desperately.
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Thank you SO much for sharing your experiences and your passion…which I believe in totally, by the way! I want to comment some more, but for now, just wanted to thank you for these posts.
Oh, and thanks for the “We were here” arrow on the Getty Image. You looked great 🙂
Comment by Demian~DreamSinger — January 20, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
It was crazy out there! My mom and I ended up getting Silver Tickets from our state, but even then it was really really crazy. I’m going to try to upload some pictures when I get back home, right now I’m on a really bad connection and uploading all of my pictures will take a very long time. I hope you guys are doing well and had lots of fun yesterday! There was so much excitement around which was enough to keep us warm and willing to embrace the cold. Such a great event!
Comment by Victor Holt — January 21, 2009 @ 8:35 am