Inauguration Day...Wow!

I had high hopes of text-messaging all day during the inauguration. Two things messed up my plans. First, you couldn't use a cell very easily. It wouldn't connect. Something about too many people? Second, when I tried to used my phone my fingers froze. So no one heard much from me today. I'm also in a cell phone dark hole where I'm staying. But I DO have a computer here.


So here's what it was like - besides INCREDIBLE and FREEZING!!!


I started out from Rockville, Maryland at about 6:00am. Got a seat on the Metro, but about 20 minutes into the 30 minute ride the train was completely full. It would stop at stations and there would be people there banging on the windows to be let in. So I decided to walk the last 2 miles from the central Metro station instead of trying for a transfer to a closer station. I had a map with some suggested walking paths. People were just pouring down the sidewalks with no idea where they were or which way to go. Some would just gather at a gate and stand there. Others would walk on in one direction or the other. I was amazed at how many people seemed totally unprepared for what they were getting into. There were families with little children, elderly people with walkers and canes, people without warm clothing. They just showed up and followed the crowds. It was moving, but also a little disturbing. You had to wonder how some people would survive the day. I know 20 people ended up hospitalized from hypothermia.


I was part of this crowd walking a 2.5 mile route to the Mall from the central Metro. I really didn't have much of an idea where I was and most of the people around me didn't either. It was the path on my little map. There was a woman behind me at one point who was walking with a walker. All roads were closed to cars. We went through a long traffic tunnel.When we emerged from the tunnel into daylight there were huge crowds of people pouring into the area from three other directions. There were signs pointing to the ticketed section and non-ticketed areas of the Mall and officials everywhere to guide and direct the crowds. We still had no idea how much further we'd have to walk to get to the Mall and the Jumbotron screens.

At a few points the crowd got jammed up and it looked like we would be stuck there and miss the whole event. Everyone stayed calm and soon we were all walking again. Suddenly, we turned a corner and there was the Mall - a huge grassy area. There was already a sea of people , but it really wasn't crowded at all the way it looked on the TV. We could see the Jumbotron screen. We could walk around. There were some blankets laid out. There were banks of bathrooms and food stands. The lines weren't too bad. The weather even warmed up a tiny bit - maybe up to 30 degrees. It was definitely cold, but tolerable. The sun was out.

We all saw the same inauguration that was on CNN. The sound system was great. I was in the crowd under the Washington Monument. Chaney got boos and so did Bush. There were grumbles when Pastor Rick Warren came out - especially from me. Every time Obama was on the screen we all cheered. There was clapping and chanting O-BA-MA. When he was sworn in there was a huge sense of relief. It's done! He's our president!


This whole day couldn't have been better. It totally exceeded my expectations. I'll upload my pictures tomorrow when I get home. Now I'm totally bushed and I'm going to sleep! Love and blessings to everyone.