It's just occurred to me recently that I never shared my experience of going to the inauguration. Probably because it sucked, where sucked means it was cold, and crowded, and cold, and because I'm only 5' tall all I could see was a massive wall of winter coat clad backs. And it sucked. I had a ticket and it sucked. Imagine how it was for the poor unwashed masses who braved it without. How did I come by such a coveted token, you ask? Sit here at my knee, my pretties, and let me tell you.
My father lives in a somewhat exclusive little mountain community about an hour outside of DC. He lives there not because he is exclusive, but because when he built his house there twenty five years ago it was just a mountain. And he lived on it alone. Then the city folk found it and he's complained about them ever since.
Except for one. The Senator. The Senator lives next door, a few trees down the road. Well, he does when he's senatoring. Otherwise he lives where ever it is he senates for. We have known The Senator for over twenty years. In those twenty years I have never heard him referred to as anything other than The Senator, and yes, you say the capitals. I'm sure he has a name and actually I do know it, but it's seems wrong somehow to say it. He just is The Senator.
And because The Senator is the stereotypical old (really, really old) white, rich, republican, he nor his family were interested in his tickets. So, using all of my wiles and graces (which, in actuality, amounted to simply asking) I scored a ticket.
I took the train out of Harpers Ferry into DC, where I took the metro to the mall. Where I then went through many, many security checkpoints. I haven't been manhandled so much since my honeymoon. Just when I was starting to have a good time, I got through. Then I stood in the cold, looked at everybody's backs, got scared by Aretha's hat and went home.
I wish I could say that I was moved by the historical-ness of it all, blah blah. But I can't. I wish I had stayed home and watched in on the telly. But hey! I can say I was there.
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14 comments:
Hehehehehe... you make me laugh. Great post.
Yep, you were there, that is something to tell the great grandkids about. It was history!
Despite it sucking I would have loved to have been there. I made the 5y/o watch it on TV with me. He happened to be home from school for some reason.
LMAO...
Yeah, I know what you mean. My mom went because she, like you, knows PEOPLE...and every time she talks about it she says "Damn it was cold"
But at least she was there.
Yeah, that's how I am about most everything. If I can't sit close and see everything perfectly -- and comfortably -- I'd rather watch it on the tube, where I can see it all, including the replay.
But still, being there had to have some magic for you!
You're only 5' tall? Seriously?
;-)
I love Harper's Ferry! It's so beautiful. We used to go every fall. There was an incredible ice cream stand. Yes, I know it's an important place for historical value but day-um that ice cream was good!
I watched the inauguration on TV and just watching everyone out there freezing their butts off made me glad I didn't make the trip!
I watched it online and can't imagine the horror of that hat in person. Yowza!
Hey, your my height! Coolness.
Anyhoo... you were courageous braving that cold and those crowds. I would never have done it, no matter how historical it was.
I think margie spotted him in Ottawa last week ... she may have got closer than you did!
i have a friend who went who felt the same way about it. in the end, he and his daughter had to sneak in under a fence...
Maybe that is why the senators family didn't go? they knew what they'd be getting into.
LOL You could have been one of the thousands without a ticket
I started sweating just looking at the masses. I can't handle crowds without a bodyguard and someone to drag me through.
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