Thursday, January 22, 2009

Our Inauguration Adventure

Watching President Obama's inauguration on the Mall in D.C. made waking up at 3:30 in the morning to catch the metro, standing out in the freezing cold for over seven hours, getting crushed in a crowd trying to exit the mall, walking for miles and developing plantar fasciitis in both feet completely worth it.

Photobucket

Even though we didn't have tickets and it seemed impossible at first to get on the Mall, we found our way in right around 12th St. We had a nice view of the Capitol in the distance and a JumboTron nearby. That's Obama in the first image below and Yo-Yo Ma in the second.
Photobucket

It was so exhilarating to be in a crowd of 1.5 million all celebrating and cheering for the same thing. I wish I could write more about the feeling of the crowd, but anything I'd write would sound ridiculously cheesy. So just believe me when I say that it was an amazing experience.

That being said, I don't think I've ever been so cold for so long as I was waiting for the swearing in. Three things made all the difference:
1.) Being with a great group of friends (Chris, Daren, Esther, Lauren and Matt).
2.) Having a delicious packed lunch that my mom made for everyone.
3.) Knowing that in a few hours Bush would no longer be President.
Photobucket

Thanks to all our readers for the well wishes, thank you Esther for the great photos and thanks to Daren for supplying the whiskey - it was a life saver!

- CL
at

26 comments:

  1. Trains and Sewing MachinesJanuary 22, 2009 at 11:35 PM

    Wow, it just seems like such an exciting experience!
    Oh I like your hats btw :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AsianCajunsJanuary 22, 2009 at 11:51 PM

    Thanks! Lar got her's at Anne Taylor years ago and I got my faux fur hat at H&M. I wear it almost every day!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AllieJanuary 23, 2009 at 2:55 AM

    Omg, how amazing exciting! That is just unreal. That whiskey definitely must've kept you guys a little warmer.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJanuary 23, 2009 at 7:56 AM

    I thought of you often during that happy day. Looked for you in the crowd shots on TV but to no avail. Way to go, Daren and Jackie, for the "supplies!"

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 9:24 AM

    How fantastic to be there in the flesh for this historic event.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 10:09 AM

    It looks like you ladies had fun! Welcome back! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Shelly's Style ShopJanuary 23, 2009 at 10:41 AM

    I wish I could have been there, too! I am so glad that you were able to experience such an amazing event!!

    Great pictures. Go Obama!

    xoxo, Shelly

    ReplyDelete
  8. KatieJanuary 23, 2009 at 11:18 AM

    i was lucky enough to be in grant park for the victory party on election night and it was AMAZING! you're right: it's so hard to write about the crowds without sounding cheesey. it was such an overwhelming, moving experience to be in a sea of love and strength and optimism. i'll never forget it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sharon January 23, 2009 at 11:44 AM

    Hi there-what an awesome adventure, well done to you both!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. ryderJanuary 23, 2009 at 12:05 PM

    you two are so lucky to have had this experience! and you are both looking impossibly cute in this ridiculous cold weather on top of it all!

    ReplyDelete
  11. sarayJanuary 23, 2009 at 1:09 PM

    I saw it on TV and it looked crazy! but it sounds like such an awesome adventure

    ReplyDelete
  12. May KasaharaJanuary 23, 2009 at 1:55 PM

    dear lord I love you two.

    thanks so much for sharing that experience!!! * * *

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownJanuary 23, 2009 at 4:51 PM

    awwww i'm glad you guys had a fantastic time and didn't freeze!! i kept hearing about how cold it was!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. this wheel's on fireJanuary 23, 2009 at 6:12 PM

    Gah!! Lovelovelove that you guys could be there! I just am amazed that there were NO arrests...Such a large, peaceful group. What a day!! Can't believe we made it to this day actually....

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 6:13 PM

    I salute you for braving the cold....

    ReplyDelete
  16. StephanieJanuary 23, 2009 at 11:15 PM

    I've been waiting for your experience to be posted. It must have been so exciting to be there in person!

    ReplyDelete
  17. paanieJanuary 24, 2009 at 12:59 AM

    thanks for sharing your experience!

    ReplyDelete
  18. this wheel's on fireJanuary 24, 2009 at 2:23 AM

    Ha loved your comment! At first I thought you meant Sean Penn & I was confused. But I agree--Sean & John look very much alike! xo

    ReplyDelete
  19. peaitlreiecniaJanuary 24, 2009 at 3:58 AM

    wow i can believe you braved the cold. i'm australian, but it looked amazing

    i've only just discovered this blog but i must say, you two (?) already have me hooked

    i'm off to link you
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. yiqin;January 24, 2009 at 7:26 AM

    Ah I am so jealous of your experience!

    ReplyDelete
  21. AceJanuary 24, 2009 at 11:02 AM

    Oh I'm so jealous. I didn't do anything special, I just sat on my couch and cried into my coffee. It was an amazing day.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Always LotusJanuary 24, 2009 at 11:22 AM

    Whiskey on a cold day sounds too good to be true! I'm so jealous of you guys, you guys were able to be there to see the whole thing whereas I was in the school's bookstore watching it on a crappy 100 yrs old T.V while sitting on dirty floor. :)
    but yes, I do agree...Khaki and neon sounds PERFECT for spring. I'm sure you guys will find great neon stuff soon! I must go to Five point to check out if they have any neon stuff there.
    Bye hotness~

    ReplyDelete
  23. First Lady of MADEJanuary 24, 2009 at 4:34 PM

    oh ladies your pics make me smile! what an exciting experience!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Humpty DumptyJanuary 24, 2009 at 6:59 PM

    Im from Australia and its like boiling here.
    btw, thanks for sharing the experience. wish i was there to escape from the heat...

    ReplyDelete
  25. DanikaJanuary 24, 2009 at 8:08 PM

    Oooh, it looks like you guys had so much fun! I was at work when it happened, and we all listened to it live on the radio. The feeling of elation was universal.

    ReplyDelete
  26. UnknownJanuary 25, 2009 at 12:04 AM

    You gals were a part of an amazing day in history! It was surely worth it.

    ReplyDelete