Descending into Kansas City enroute to DC

We had a great flight, even though they gave us no real food in 6 hours. What is with that? Good thing we brought some bagels, tangerines and dark chocolate from home.

The head flight attendant’s name was Barak. (I kid you not! Thought he pointed out that his name doesn’t have a ‘c’ in it, like Barack Obama’s.)  Many people on the plane with us to Baltimore were also on their way to the Inauguration. I put on my “blogger” hat, grabbed David’s iPhone and interviewed several of them to find out why they were making this trip to Washington. Here’s what they had to say:

Rocky (from Hayward, CA): I’m the president of California Young Democrats. Barack Obama has reached out to all parts of America and inspired them to believe in our country again. I’m going to the Inauguration because it’s a fulfillment of a dream I’ve had for a long time to see a politician who worked hard, and listened to all voices. I think he’s setting a new tone for our country.

Jennifer (from Oakland, CA): I’m going to the Inauguration because I never believed there would be an African-American President in my lifetime. I hope to experience the camaraderie of everyone else that is there and the feeling of being present at a pivotal moment in history. I think there’s a message in all this for young people… that in the USA we have now proven that you can be anything that you want to be. And you can tell the girls, “Next time, it’s our turn!”

Boy (CA): I’m 9. On election day, we were watching on TV and when I heard that he won, I got a white t-shirt from my room and I wrote on it in marker: Obama Rocks!

Boy’s Mom: We’re not going to the Inauguration, but we’ll be in Baltimore and we’re going to the train station on Saturday, and you know about the train that Obama is taking to DC? Well he’s stopping in Baltimore and getting out at War Memorial Plaza. We’re going to see him there!

Annie: If you get any photos of him at the train station will you email them to me for this blog?

Boy’s Mom:  Sure I will!

Arianna: I was invited to the Inauguration by the People to People Program, set up for student leaders to go to different places. I’m actually kind of excited. None of my friends are going and I’m going. They’re all jealous! I just want to be close enough to see him! This is the first black President. People are always told that they can be President… blah blah blah… but he’s like something different. We finally have somebody other than old white men. Now people will open their minds a little bit more to different things.

Victor from Kansas

Victor (from Kansas): It’s going to be history and I want to be part of it. Well, everyone is going to be part of it whether they’re there or not, but I want to be as close to it as possible just because it’s pretty amazing! Being an African-American myself, I don’t really consider Obama representing the African-American people–he’s representing black, white, Hispanic, Asian… where he’s come from, his background… I think he represents everybody, especially the youth. And being a youth myself, youth helped elect him and we get to see what he’s going to bring to us.

The excitement is definitely building (in the air and on the ground) and we’ve still got 5 days left until the Inauguration. Time for me to get some sleep… tomorrow we’re going to DC to tour the Capitol and the Supreme Court and you get to come along too… Just make sure you’ve got your virtual jackets, hats, gloves, etc., because, fyi, it’s 14 degrees outside!!

It’s right before noon: David and I are doing our last minute computer stuff here at the gate at Oakland Airport before boarding. We’re wearing our Obama pins. I figured they’d be good conversation starters with other travelers on their way to the Inauguration.

Check back with you later!