Marching Upward!!

WOW.... What a year 2008 was. Obama and Hillary faced off and in the end those prayers were obviously answered. Then it was Obama and McCain, and there were a few times when we actually thought we might have to move north to Canada, but then McCain went on a hunting trip up in Alaska and found some washed up beauty queen that unfortunately thought he meant VP of Mary Kay Cosmetics and NOT the United States. After McCain made THAT mistake.... Obama simply had to wait till January 20th. There never really was a doubt who would win the election. Well there may have been SOME doubt..... probably in some small village in some war torn country on the CONTINENT of Africa. Anyhow, now that we're caught up..... YAY!!!!! January 20th 2009 is almost here and we're going to the Inauguration. We decided sometime around the afternoon of November 6th that we we had to be there, but then common sense got the best of us and we were like... no way in hell are we fighting those crowds. Record breaking crowds of well-wishers are expected to descend on Washington DC just to witness this historic event. YES.... for the first time in history.... a Village Idiot is being returned to his village. Sorry, for that... I just can't believe he hasn't been arrested yet. Historic.... Momentous...... COLD, those are just a few of the words we've heard describing Inauguration Day. Today, we made a trip into Senator Byrds office to pick up our tickets. Yes, we were two of the lucky hundred or so from just one Senator, to be selected to receive tickets to the silver area for viewing the event. Of course there'll be several THOUSAND people in the area with us. I don't care though.... I'll be there. Here's our ticket.... not much different than the one we and the general public got in the mail except for one important line..... Mall Standing Area - Silver The one that came in the mail said Public Area Viewing Here's a close up of the top half of the ticket. Steve thanked me for not breaking out into song in the Senators office. When I was handed the gold envelope our tickets came in.... I immediately thought of Charlie in Willie Wonka... "I've got a golden Ticket"!! The whole ticket. You can't reproduce this either unless you have your own presidential seal, because the ticket has one on it and it's raised. I know what some of you were thinking.... Bad Bad Bad!!!! :) So after we got our tickets we headed over to the Capitol and got breakfast/lunch. It was ok, but eating in DC always comes with a little shock value. Someone should tell them it doesn't cost that much to make a sandwhich!!! Afterwards we headed around to the front of the capitol and took this shot from one of the two areas we could be in during the inauguration. This would be our view.... if we get there early.... which we probably won't. Speaking of getting there.... we already have our commemorative Inauguration train tickets and I have to say.... they're much fancier than the actual inauguration tickets are. Hmmmm... maybe someone needs to talk to those design people.

See how nice it would be watching from this angle!! We'd get a straight shot view of the Man himself. If our eyes aren't froze shut!!

It was so cold. Apparently there were some kind of cold weather records broken.

All we knew was that our breath froze inside our scarves which in turn froze our scarves to our beards. Once our eyelashes started freezing together we knew it was time to take the pics we wanted and hail a cab. So, the second of the two areas we could possibly be standing in is Here. Not as glamorous as the first, but probably not as many annoying "buffy types" either. It's really only across a street from the first site and this would be our view.

not so close.... but at least.......

....it's not back there by the washington Monument or worse... behind the monument.

So we took one last hope-filled look at our Nations Capitol.

Once again about to become a symbol of pride, I couldn't help but

get all misty-eyed thinking about it.

Many struggles have been fought since the creation of our government.

One of those struggles was for freedom. When Obama take the oath we'll know without a doubt, that that struggle was not in vain. While there are still, so many more struggles to overcome, I'm happy to be able to go with my life partner, my best friend, to an open air event, on the grounds of the Nations Capitol and celebrate Freedom. We can proudly say we were part of making this day happen. My only hope is if the rest of you can't say the same, at least take the time to share in our joy!!

Oh

Bold

And

Mighty

Anabasis

I will hold you accountable to the millions who died with the dream you now see as a reality, but I will also be by your side and hold my self in account as well.

We all still live to dream of equality and fairness. Let us not think the struggle ended, but rather a battle won. We'll see you on January 20th not as our first black President, but as a beacon of hope for our nation.