Apologies and Stories

So sorry! I had no computer access in D.C. I did however have an amazing time. I have too many stories to write in a blog so I will share a few and leave it to you to contact me to get together and chat.

Traveling: We had been stuck in Philly, on the runway, in the plane for four hours. We were restless and getting more agitated by the moment. There was one very vocal ringleader in the complaining. She was not rude or disrespectful, but she made it clear that no one was happy. Just before take off, one of the flight attendants offered her a seat in first class. She responded saying, “I do not feel comfortable with that, what about all of these other people? What are you going to offer them? Instead of offering one of us first class, you should offer first class service to all of us.” In this act she proved once more than indeed we are all “in this together.”

Family: 6 cousins, 3 uncles, 2 aunts and a partridge in a pear tree. We all gathered in D.C. for this incredible moment in our nation’s history. It was fascinating to sit with them all and listen to their stories of injustice. They all agreed that they thought that they would never live to see this day and are proud of how far we have come as a nation.

The inauguration: Incredible. So many people that if I raised my hand in the crowd, I would not be able to get it back down. (this actually happened) Standing in this vast sea of humanity for three hours before they opened the ticket holders gate could have been unpleasant, annoying, and frustrating. It was not. It was fun, we were all talking, and sharing stories, and laughing. No one pushed, shoved, or yelled. It was as if for that moment, everyone understood and had accepted their place in the world. It was amazing!

I will keep writing, and talking. I will post photos this weekend. Thanks you all for all of your support!

Anxiety

I am sitting in my living room waiting for Sarah Gaumer (just one in the vast array of people helping to make this possible.) I am anxious. Is it all going to work out? Is this really happening? Am I going to let all of you down my not being able to make it work? Then I realize that in this historic event, we are all in this together. I am beyond excited. Wish me luck, Sarah is waiting…

Plannning Update: 1/15/09—SO Incredible!

I feel like the luckiest woman alive!  My entire life I have been surrounded by amazing, genourous, giving, intelligent, and beautiful people. Tonight I was reminded that this incredible blessing is still with me.  My uncle called to ask my flight number and time so that he can come pick me up in Baltimore and bring me into D.C. This is not the original uncle that I am planning on staying with, but a different one.  This is my aunt’s husband who hears that I am flying in and thus, decides that it would be best for him to come pick me up at the airport.  The fact that this came together without any prodding from me, proves that there is indeed a God and that there is something hopeful and beautiful about family, friends, and relationships. It shows and that in the midst of chaos we can indeed find HOPE! It reminds me of why we are all here in the first place, and why this is such a historical event. I am proud to be invloved in such a vast community of generousity and beauty that daily lives Obama’s creed, “YES WE CAN!”

D.C.hronicles: Part One: Planning to go…

When Barack Obama became President Elect Obama, I knew that I needed to do everything humanly possible to attend his inauguration. I heard that the only way to get tickets was to write my congressman and ask him to set aside some tickets for me. Along with several thousand other hopeful attendees I wrote my congressman. I eloquently described who I was and what I did. I went into great detail about how long I had been a fan of Mr. Obama and cited many ways and reasons why my experience would benefit my family, friends and students. His response was prompt:

There are several thousand people requesting tickets. We have no way of knowing how many tickets our office will be allotted. We will be in touch.

I gave up. I figured that since my name had never been drawn out of a hat for anything in my entire life, the chances this time were slim to none.

Then a miracle happened on Monday January 12th 2009, I received an email from my congressman stating that there were tickets waiting n his office for me to pick up anytime Wednesday January 14th!

The rest is history. Here is my well thought out, deeply secure, and incredibly smart plan of getting there: (note the sarcasim)

For record keeping purposes! What a ride!

I fly out on Sunday 1/18 and fly back Wednesday 1/21. I fly into Baltimore and have friends/cousins there that I can stay with Sunday evening (if need be). I will need to take a METRO AIRPORT BUS (B30 I’m told) either Sunday evening or Monday 1/19 morning to D.C. Once I arrive in D.C. I will need to
take two separate METRO TRAINS in order to reach my uncle’s house, or another, longer METRO TRAIN to Shelia’s friend, Eve’s house. I have been assured that I am welcome at either place. My uncle’s house in D.C. will be the better choice because I am told that most public transportation will be shut down on Tuesday 1/20 for the duration of the inauguration. My aunt and uncle will be walking to the inauguration from their house (I think I should join them). After the inauguration I will need to make my way back to
Baltimore for my 7:00am Wednesday morning flight back.

I have included a list of figures to help you gain a better understanding of what I will be dealing with. I also want to include that I am overjoyed at this opportunity, wouldn’t have it any other way, and can’t wait to be able to tell the fantastic story that all of this will entail!

Latest Inauguration Figures:

Swearing-in ceremony — 11:30 AM

Swearing-in seating opens — 8 AM

Inaugural parade — 2:30 PM ( I probably will not be attending this…)

Parade seating opens — 7 AM

Ticketed attendees — 240 thousand (hey..I am included in this number!)

Total attendees — 1.5 to 3 million (WOW)

Number of toilets — 5 thousand (umm…right!)

Number of Jumbo trons — 21

Security personnel — 23 + thousand (I love this number in comparison to the
number of total attendees ; )

Metro ridership/hour — 120 thousand (I picture the AZ light rail opening
lines times 25 ; ) (I will be included in this number)

Metro ridership/day — 1.2 million (OH DEAR! I will be included in this
number too!)

Charter buses — 10 + thousand

Airline passengers — 500 thousand (I will be included in this number…)

Amtrak passengers — 75 thousand

Pop. of DC — 580 thousand (I will be included in this number….)

Pop. of DC Metro Area — 5.3 million (I will be included in this number…)

UNBELIEVEABLE! HUH! REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE!! I CAN’T WAIT!

More updates to come, I promise!
Cheryl