Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Welcome, President Obama!


I am absolutely thrilled to have been a very tiny part of history yesterday for the inauguration of our 44th President of the United States.
We were a small pack of five traveling slowly through the city in search of the perfect vantage point in which to catch a glimpse of our new Commander in Chief.
I wanted to watch the people, I wanted to watch the colorful surroundings as we crept along, I wanted to watch the events unfolding, but in reality, I mostly just watched my step.
We happened upon a small opening in front of a Jumbotron just in time to watch the inauguration begin. For a few brief moments on a bitter January day, I was not cold. I was not tired, or uncomfortable. The sun split through the cloudy winter sky and, together with the reality of the occasion, warmed my reddened cheeks. Along with two million of my closest friends, I listened with respect and admiration as President Obama spoke his amazing words of encouragement and hope for a new America! As the first African American president, Obama brilliantly quoted our nation’s first ever president, George Washington.
"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."
The crowd cheered! We laughed and hugged and dried our watery eyes! It was an awe-inspiring flash in time. A piece of our history I will never forget. A tick in time about which I will always remember exactly where I was and exactly how I felt.

6 comments:

My Little Room In The Corner said...

Great Post! I could here it, smell it, feel it. Made my throat swell with pride and emotion. Lucky you to have been there.

Anonymous said...

I have been waiting all day for your blog to come out! You expressed it beautifully. You have such a great way with words!

Awesome photo as well! Robin

Anonymous said...

Touching words Bec! You gave us a taste of how awesome the experience must have felt. Considerate yourself fortunate to have been part of something so hugely historic!

Becca said...

This is from Lynn:

I read your blog. What an incredible thing to be a part of history.
I played hooky so I could watch and we recorded it.
I was in such awe of our new President and what a good man he seems to be. I cheered and cried and laughed at myself because I was alone. Then watched it again when my husband came home. We cheered and cried and laughed at ourselves because we were screaming at the TV.
I am so happy you got to see the spectacle of the inauguration and to be a part of what I can only imagine was an electric day. You truly saw a rebirth of a nation.

Anonymous said...

Becca, I love your writing! Thanks for sharing your experience on such a historic special day. It must have been magical to be there.

Anonymous said...

I thought of you guys all day that day while I watched on my computer at work and wished and wished I was there to share it with you! On that day history was made!

~Jenni Hunter