It was a good day
I took Jill and a friend, who as an aside is of mixed racial heritage and felt the changes we are undergoing in a very personal way, down to Capitol Theatre. It was packed when we arrived, standing room in the lobby only. But after a while of stretching up on our toes, peering through cracks between shoulders in front of us, I saw a small opening and urged the girls to try to get forward into the theatre. Then I said to surrounding people, can the kids get through to see? And the crowd opened for them, everyone saying, yes, let the kids see. I feel deeply that this is their era and it bodes hopefully.
The other moment that got me came when Obama listed our American faiths and included "nonbelievers". I have never been included before and what made me smile was that the whole audience in Capitol theatre cheered for that inclusion. A good thing about Olympia.
I was three when Kennedy so sadly was killed and I don't remember where I was, but throughout my childhood would hear adults say that they never forgot where they were and with whom on that day. I will never forget where I was and with whom on the day that for the first time in my life, I wanted to sing the national anthem and cried at the beauty of change.
Molly [Olympia, WA, US]
I was at home working listening to excerpts as it came on the radio - I then watched a programme called Obama's Story about how he got where he is. I was very excited about it and felt it was a very historical day for the world. I worry about the amount of expectation heaped on his shoulders.
Deborah [Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK]
I was home sick, so watched coverage from 7:00am to 8:00pm on all manner of channels, but focusing on MSNBC. Every time they focused on Barack Obama, tears welled up; it was finally happening, finally real. I felt bad for the President and First Lady, though, for having to endure the never-ending parade and ten Inaugural Balls. And then they made him to to a meeting at 7:45 this morning! Let the poor man process! I hope he is able to get a good night's sleep tonight in his new home.
Ari [Sequim, WA, US]
I watched the inauguration with several hundred people at our local community center.
Having been a child in Memphis when Dr. King was killed, I felt a kind of subtle fear yesterday as I watched our new President and his wife walk down Penn. Ave. I kept wondering how they could be safe out in public without protective glass around them – walking past those hundreds of thousands of people in the crowd. My experience of the inauguration was tainted by my fear of having lived through the assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, and John Lennon. I’m so thankful that our new First Family was kept safe and today (the day after) I’m very, very grateful and happy for our new visionary leader, a man of great integrity and intelligence who will lead us, at last, into a new era in America.
After the inauguration a group of kindergarten children stood in front of the large tv screen and sang,”This Little Light of Mine”. These children warmed my heart and made me smile and rejoice that they will now have a future because of the goodness and true leadership of this amazing man, President Barack Obama.
Laurie York [Albion, CA, US]
I was looking for a message from you all day. What a fairy tale, magical and restorative.
I watched from 4 am through the private
moments going to "home" to a place they'd never been before. I watched from home on all the the channels, although I chose NBC for the official program, Tom Brokaw and a knowledgeable historical content and constitutional relevance over Katie or other less connected commentators. My Mother, Husband and for a short while Anya. I had a professor that went so for months we, her students, shared the excitement and anticipation of her trip.
I to am working on something, probably a letter, to Daddy "B". He'll get a nickname, why not mine? By example he is leading the "family of the world." Through demonstration he is modeling committed love and what it looks like, as a husband, father, friend, leader, and so much more. I would be curious about your inquiry and the attributes and expectations we are assigning to him as a member of our family and community. In a world where years of "Justice Policies" have incarcerated many young men of color, even when they do rejoin society many have not has the benefit of a father's guidance and they don't learn it them selves or how to pass it to the next generation . I anticipate Daddy B will be the missing partner in many homes. Moms, especially single/solo mothers can use the president like Santa Claus, make your bed, go do your home work, you don't get to be president if you don't do your school work, kinda WWJD, what would Obama do?
Rhonda [Seattle, WA, US]
I was home. Inside the house. In bed. Watching on Television. I rarely do any of that in the day time. I paused.
I was with Wolfgang and Our Critters. Sadie, Perdu and Lil' Kitty. I was on the Phone Reaching for my Beloved Friends.
After all of my Hero's were Murdered or Died by Rock and Roll Suicide...I feel my generation, out of heartbreak, slowly turned their backs on the brilliant ideals of the 60's to become the World's Greatest Consumers. I feel Cruel Hearted Conservatism had it's hand on the throat of idealism for most of these 40 years.
I feel many of my generation also, quietly, in each of their lives tried to create Beauty and Love.
I feel the African Americans are and have been the Bravest most Forgiving People who have shown us the way to Grass Roots Organizing and
Keeping the Faith.
I Feel We Were All Washed Clean Today! And We Can Once Again Believe In Our Own Light.
Diane [Arlington, TN, US]
I worked from home so I could watch his speech on TV which I found to be very moving and very realistic. I took off work early and went to Marina's house where Mary Catherine joined us and we popped a cork and toasted the new president and the departure of Bush!!!!
Then, I joined my wife and other friends at an Obama party at a local restaurant/bar. We partied on and on and it was exhilarating to be in the company of so many Obama supporters, both gay and straight, black and white. Of course, Memphis and Shelby County had a majority vote for Obama, but the rest of the state did not. So, it is nice to be on the cool end of the state!!
Melinda [Memphis, TN, US]
We don't have cable so I watched it on the computer. I was alone but afterwards my mom and I spoke about it on the phone for a long while- the immensity of it. Todd called me from Portland to say it had choked him up. Sylvie watched it at school with her class and they were given cake in celebration.
The first thing in the morning when I took the dog out I could sense the collective buzz in the air. It felt very positive. The only feeling I can liken it too is the way it feels on Christmas morning.
Oh and all during the day I kept thinking, "Wow! Would to God Dr. King is watching somewhere."
Paigey, [Everett, WA, US]
