January 20, 2009

The president’s inauguration address happened at commute time in California. I was on the road and so listened on my car radio pulled over at the side of the road so I could pay close attention. President Obama is a great orator. There was much in his speech to cheer about, comment on and even one day probably crave in marble somewhere. But that is not what I am going to remember of the day.

I tivo-ed 8 hours of C-SPAN coverage. When I got home in the evening I listened to commentary and analysis of the whole event with call in citizens voicing the very things I was feeling too. Change and hope and patriotic feeling were running high. But once more this is not what I am going to remember of the day.

It took me three evenings to watch all 8 hours of the coverage I had recorded. I watched as President Obama gave his inaugural address. I saw him at the inaugural luncheon. I watched as his motorcade went down Pennsylvania Avenue, part of the route he and First Lady Michelle walked. And finally I watched as he and his family entered the reviewing stand for the parade to begin.

Band after band marched by. Military, colleges and high schools all sent their best and brightest. It began to blur together so I fast-forwarded every now and then. But Mr. Obama stood through the entire parade. He waved, he smiled, and he watched each group go by. He knew every person in the parade wanted to be a part of this moment. Every one wanted to catch his eye and be noticed for an instant. And he stood there, happy yet I’m sure tired. He stood there and gave each one a piece of his day. This is what I will remember of the inaugration.

Posted 1/23/2009 @ 12:10 AM | Weekly Thoughts