Party Like It's 1.20.09

Thanks to Anne, I have a shirt that says that, "Party Like It's 1.20.09." What a moment! What a day! What a great country in which we live!

I'm bummed that circumstances have made it such that I am not in DC for the craziness that is this inaugural day. However, I'm currently sitting in MY chair, witnessing history from the warmth of my living room...with my mom & Sweetness...the Obama champagne is chilled...ready to be uncorked.

I thought I would write this Blog entry as I watch today's ceremony unfold...

From the Capitol steps to the Lincoln Memorial, the Mall runs 1.9 miles. When in our nation's history have we had people standing nearly 2 miles deep to watch a presidential inauguration? NEVER! This is absolutely amazing to watch! (This was certainly not the case for W's first inauguration...we were there with Rikki...and there was plennnnty of elbow room amongst the crowd...no need for anyone to be behind the ticketed area...just plenty of rich rednecks in their fur coats with silk lining...complaining about how cold they were (it was sleeting, after all)...none of those rich rednecks had remembered the famous "Checkers Speech" by former President Nixon who talked about Pat wearing "respectable Republican cloth coat." Much better suited for the sleet than fur...)

The Obama girls, Malia and Sasha couldn't look any more adorable. Just like the type of girls, for more than the obvious reasons, that I hope will become Elizabeth's friends one day! Malia has her digital camera out...sooooo cute!!!

MSNBC is talking about the Lincoln bible. I am really suprised that Barack Obama is the first president-elect to request use of the Lincoln bible for the swearing in ceremony.

Reid is amazed that after her appearance on Oprah yesterday, Dr. Jill Biden is appearing without a muzzle. I think the Bidens were quite charming on Oprah yesterday. She also won't be near a microphone.

VP Cheney didn't get pushed down the stairs and off the platform. Damn!

W is walking out to the boo birds. Kudos to the commentators on MSNBC stating that it is in bad form for people to be booing W's entrance. (Reminds me of the crowd booing the crap out of Bill & Hillary Clinton...and Al & Tipper Gore, especially the latter, in 2000. Made me quite cranky that the crowd wasn't more respectful of the Clintons & Gores...not cool to boo -- even W...and I think everyone that knows me knows I have NEVER been a fan!) At least for the formal announcement of W, it sounds much more like polite golf clapping...much better form, there, audience.

VP Joe Biden...to a sea of flags waving...

And now...PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK H. OBAMA!!!! Woo Hoo!!!

I wonder where Rikki & Doug are in this sea of people...and Andrea Mcelroy...and Todd Pickett...

I was hoping for a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T from Aretha Franklin, but will settle for My Country Tis Of Thee. But what in the Hell is that thing on her head???

Joe Biden takes his oath of office. Yea!!!! How cool...his 91 year old mama is there to witness that!!!

Ahhhh...hopefully the performance of John Williams, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGil is a sign of things to come - more funding for the arts. Simple Gifts -- makes a WVU grad verklempt!

Some time between Joe Biden accepting the oath and the music, http://www.whitehouse.gov/ got updated...

I'm totally choked up now. It's official - the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack H. Obama! Spotted our Senator, Jay Rockefeller, over his shoulder during the swearing in...

The inaugural address...happy to hear that "We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost"...that we have been called to service (reminds me of the part of the Alpha Gamma Delta Purpose which I hold so dear to my heart, "To welcome the opportunity of contributing to the world's work in the community where I am placed because of the joy of service thereby bestowed and the talent of leadership multiplied.") ...that "America is a friend of each nation"...that "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord"...

I love the quote from 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]."

I'm so thankful that I no longer have to wish that the man residing in the White House is named Dave - or Josiah Bartlett.

God Bless you, Mr. President -- and the United States of America!

Yes We Can!