Inauguration

Yesterday was by far the most memorable day of my life, and for many, many reasons. I'm in DC with my cousin Robin, and when I say that we're exhausted I mean it. As an example, we're still lying in our hotel bed, and its 4:15 pm.

Our day yesterday began at 3:15 am, kind of. Really it began at 9 am on Monday morning because we went to the Black Tie and Boots Texas Ball Monday night, got in at 2, lied down at 2:15, and set the alarm for 3. I really don't think I ever fell asleep in those short 45 minutes because I was so worried about missing the alarm. We left for the subway station at 4 am, and made it downtown around 5, at which time the metro station was already unbelievably packed. We got to the Mall (the strip of land between the capital and the Lincoln Memorial) at about 530 and remained in 1 spot until 1. The temp was in the low 20s, it was still dark for about 2 hours, and there were an estimated 1.8 million people in the Mall alone. When I say we were crowded it is an understatement. We were packed in so tight you were constantly squished between people and being pushed around from side to side. It was definitely a test of our balancing skills, and today we feel like 85 year old ladies. We were chaparoning a group of 17 high school seniors, and at one point while it was still dark, 2 of the girls needed to go to the bathroom. A short while later Robin gets a call that they were stuck and people would not let them back to our spot. So Robin, being the kind-hearted soul that she is, decided to go find them and escort them back. Well that, my friends, was no small task. She literally had to push, shove, bribe, and crawl over people to get to them. And then do the same to get back. I felt so horrible for her. But she finally made it.

Eventually the clock struck noon and the ceremonies began. Some time around 630 that morning I was quite certain I would never see 12 noon, but by the grace of God we made it. Once the inauguration began our lives got much better. It was very exciting, and most memorable. We have a great video of the crowd after Obama took his oath. Almost everyone on the mall had flags, and after his oath we were in a sea of waving flags and cheers. It was really incredible.

But needless to say, Robin and I both agreed that we would never do anything like that again. We are so excited to have been there, but next time will be perfectly happy to watch everything from the sidelines. I have great pics from the ball and other places that I will post later.