Auld Lang Syne (Times Gone By)

With already growing nostalgia, I am writing the last post of the Inaugural Inauguration. Fitting that we closed the week out with a celebration of sorts at the quintessential Washington establishment, Old Ebbit Grill, which I always recommend to DC visitors.  Mavonne started a round of toasts that the whole bar and nearly restaurant joined in for "O-Bama, O-Bama."

And, even if you don't share my politics or level of enthusiasm for the new administration (yes, I admit to some dear Republican friends out there), I hope you do share with us the awe and beauty of a peaceful transition of power.  

For the families of Kathleen, Katie and Mavonne, perhaps you may want to make fast friends with Susan, as the memento haul above is 98 percent hers, and she has one mother, one sister, one boyfriend and one horse.

Happy trails for us all.

Kathleen

Ball Gowns on the Metro

Our taxi cab driver dropped us off at the metro and said that was the only way we were getting across town to the Google ball because of all the street closures and chaos. We lucked into a third ticket at the door (we were down by one at this point due to exhaustion---  the rest of us running on pure adrenalin) to add to the two most generously gifted to us.  Thank you Lori!

Here's the ceiling of the ball held at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue. Gives the mood of the rocking out crowd.

The place was pulsing with great energy and we danced, danced, danced to a DJ spinning music that would delight all ages.

         

                                                     

Here is Mavonne on the Metro, not happy with me snapping away...sound familiar to some of you out there!  

Ok, I must digress into a bit of celebrity gush. I know all you out there are secret readers of People too!   Breezing by us entering the ball at the same time was my favorite all time actor, John Cusack, in all his Grosse Point Blank cool! I resisted making him take a picture with me; I'll rue that decision in my dying days...

One of us met her future husband at the ball --- a major "investor" in Google.  Ha, ha.  We'll be sipping Cosmos on her yacht soon...

Most of all, it was an evening that topped out a most incredible day of celebration and hope.  

My feet hurt!

New Way Forward

We began our day in the early morning walking towards the Washington Monument and then started our ascent of the Mall towards the Capitol. It was precarious walking at times with the crowds swelling and then bursting through small portals of entry.  Strangely, the crowd was calm faced with crowded and even crushing paths of travel.  We decided to stay clear of the metro as the reports were it was extremely crowded (text messages requested us to walk if at all possible).  A good decision.  Mavonne and I arrived at the silver ticketed area about 10 am. We were quite a ways still from the Capitol, but had wide angle views of the ceremony site.  The wintry weather tested our stamina even though we were properly layered.  The jumbotrons projected images and sound with the Capitol looming in the background ---an awesome sight through the clear and crisp morning air.  The multicultural, multinational crowd oohed and awed as each celebrity and politico appeared climaxing with shouts of  "O-Bama, O-Bama, O-Bama" when the President-elect entered. During the oath of office, silence permeated the Mall with only the echoing voice of the President audible.  It is that strong voice echoing in this cold January morning, and the genuine feeling of a new dawn for our nation, that I will remember.

"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations." President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009.

On This Day We Gather

An amazing moment in our history that we experienced first hand with fellow Americans and people from around the world.  The mood was joyous, reverential, and emotional beyond description.  Shouts of joy, tears of joy and funny moments blossomed around us spontaneously.

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.  The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation:  the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."  The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, January 20, 2009.

Reception Mania

With President-elect Obama.

And, Lt. Governor Garamendi.

And, too many more to post.  Late to bed and early to rise to be among the masses.

Inauguration Invitation

Here is the official invitation and ticket.  We are "invited" to the silver mall standing area for those of you following along on the map.  Quite a distance from the other "invited" folks, but happy to be among the invited.  

Location map: 

http://inaugural.senate.gov/documents/doc-209-map.pdf

You Can Wait

Day 3 of the Inaugural Inauguration excursion.  Day 2 was smooth sailing for intrepid travelers, thank goodness.  No crowds as expected at the airports and ground transportation was plentiful. We did arrive late in the evening and missed the concert on the mall ---- so no Bono sightings.  Our hotel is teeming with kindred spirits who informed us the concert on the mall was fantastic.   The wine count began promptly upon arriving.

Day 3 however, the crowds have kicked up.  So much so that the staff at the metro stop near the Capitol gave up on the

machines and told the crowd to just walk on through without using your Obama commemorative metro ticket (picture of Obama on the ticket).

Here we are waiting in line with the rest of the 250,000 

potential ticket holders at the Cannon building that houses the House Congressional members.  

Here we are waiting some more.

And some more.... 2 1/2 hours worth, surrounded by folks from the great states of New York (good tips for dressing warmly in the east), Ohio and Alabama.  Finally the Thompson congressional staff had pity on us and brought the tickets out before frost bite set in.  Thank you Anna!

Others in our group took in the sights and so the memorial summits  have begun.  We have also added to the top ten/eleven list at the request of our subscribers!

We're off to a plethura of inaugural receptions tonight -- like for the Mayor of Long Beach, go figure and other such illustrious celebrities.  Oh  celebrity sightings have also begun and it is rumored that the Baldwin brothers (the Democratic ones) are staying with us...