For the first time ever I've had a chance to spend the day taking in all the great and small moments of a Presidential Inauguration Day. Here's just a few of the memories I'll hang on to from this great day:
1. ABC's full coverage of the day--it was not intrusive or ego driven as some of the cable networks where the commentators forgot that the day was not about them.
2. Michelle Obama presenting Laura Bush with a gift of a pen and journal for writing her memoirs when the Obamas "dropped" by the White House for coffee after church. Very classy gesture.
3. Secretary of Education designee Arne Duncan--I know nothing about him, but something tells me he's a good "school man" who will make sure that teachers will have the support and resources to finally make sure that No Child is Left Behind.
4. George H.W.Bush and Bill Clinton greeting each other with great affection before the inauguration ceremony--what a true odd couple. Love H's Dr. Zhivago hat--almost as good as Aretha's!
5. Faces across the world watching the day's events, especially the children in the Indonesian elementary school which Obama attended many years ago.
6. Malia and Sasha coming out on the stage all smiling and confident in their pretty outfits to watch their dad being sworn in. Malia had her camera handy throughout.
7. Aretha's tender, soulful singing of "My Country 'tis of Thee." And what a hat!
8. The Obamas walking the parade route--tall, strong and confident. They make a great team. And later their first dance was so casual and they both looked so modern and with it. Fortunately however, Fred let Ginger lead. . .
9. Obama's serious, almost stern, face as he waited in the wings to be announced and come on stage. He looked like a man who knows he has a job to do--rah, rah time is over. Our country needs a leader who is determined to help us dig out of our economic and morale tailspin. Hopefully he will be our "Sully."
10. The inaugural speech. I loved the way he spoke to not only Americans, but the world. He laid out how we would work with other countries who desire peace, but not tolerate threats to the safety of U.S. citizens. I loved his charge to all of us, both in and out of government, to stop behaving like children and get to work to right our course.
Well, I hope you have many great memories of today as well. Were they much different from mine? And let's all wish Obama a good night's rest and strong pot of coffee in the morning so the work can begin.
I felt he spoke to world too. It was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Benediction at the end too and seeing the smiles.
Most interesting Inauguration Day 'musings', o observant one. It was certainly a glorious day (albeit a bit of a cold one) to become a President. Some of the folks in our office took the trip to D.C.; some took the day off to experience the event as you did; most of the rest watched here at work.
ReplyDeleteLincoln, who is always at this event , seemed especially prominent. For Baltimoreans, this sense was probably heightened by Obama's whistle stop tour (following the rail route that Lincoln had taken on his way to the 1861 inauguration) appearance outside City Hall on Saturday where a crowd waited for 4 hours in subfreezing temps for Obama to speak for approx. 10 minutes. After his appearance, a 75 year old lady, who had come from New Jersey that morning because as she put it,
"I never thought I would live to see this day", echoed the feeling of many that "it was worth the wait".
So, "The great work begins. The messenger has arrived."
I'm sending you Inauguration Day photo greetings from Atlanta in a separate mailing.
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ReplyDeleteHi Faye! Beautiful post. In reply to your comments - first off, I have to really like an artist or band before I'll haul myself off the sofa and go see them in concert :-) And yep, I do know who Rick Springfield is *giggle* I think he was the one who was always in love with Jesse's Girl?
ReplyDeleteI'm the music industry's dream come true, in that I like almost all types of music. It just depends on my mood. My iPod has some Enya, some Metallica, some Fleetwood Mac, some traditional Irish music...you get the idea. I love Loreena McKennitt!
And the pic in my blog header? That is the inside of Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West, FL. That is where J and I got married in 2007. All together now: Awwww :-) It's a beautiful place. Thanks, as always, for the thoughtful comments and questions!
I was glad when he used "Hussein" when taking his oath. There was so much flak on the internet about that from Muslim-haters. It's his middle name, people.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, it was a beautiful inauguration.
Faye, I agree with almost everything you said. I watched almost every minute of Sunday's concert and the Inauguration. I have to disagree with you about Aretha's song. I'm no expert on soul, but Bettye LaVette on Sunday appealed to me much more.
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed with Roberts messing up the oath (see the NYTimes piece called "Oaf of Office".
And I thought Warren's prayer was meaningless and it looked like he was having trouble reading it. Pity they didn't broadcasr Bishop Gene Robinson's prayer before Sunday's concert which was beautifully written and delivered. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWWAnitUCw4. Or Google for the full text.
And isn't Obama off to a wonderful start? Addressing Gitmo and lobbying in the first day. And I loved seeing the State Dept. employees practically delirious when he came to speak to them. They must be so glad to know they won't be ignored in favor of the Pentagon any more.I'm even glad they don't have to wear jackets in the oval office.
I'm delirious, too.
Wheeeeee!
And congrats on having a comment removed by an administrator! Seems like that must be a milestone of sorts. :-D
ReplyDeleteI watched it too, and think he is a wonderful man.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get over the crowds when the camera showed how far back they went, truly amazing.
Your memories of Inauguration Day are wonderful. One of my favorite memories will be the students spontaneously clapping when seeing the note on the television that Obama was officially the president even without the oath of office. I was so touched that they felt the enormity of the occasion.
ReplyDeleteJust popped in from Pensacola to say hey...will make more "prolific" comments when I have time...
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful day ! I only wish I would have had the courage to fight the crowds and the cold - I live less than 25 mi. from DC. So I could have been a part of history - but wait, I was - I voted.
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