Day 5

My favorite memory.
Attending Barack Obama's Inauguration

Barack(saying the oath) and Michelle

I mentioned before that I've been a huge supporter of Obama long before his presidency. I loved him when he was just a senator. I told my dad, "that guy is going to be President one day" and just months later he announced his bid for presidency. Very few people knew much about him at the time, but they quickly learned as he was often featured on every news station. I volunteered for his campaign weeks before the big election, I gave speeches to friends and family. Although I was obviously asking them to support and vote for Obama, I really wanted them to make their own educated decision. I wrote up a huge chart with hot issues and compared McCain and Obama's views on them to help my family understand it. My dad, a hard republican, ended up voting for Obama! I still support him to this day. He has fulfilled many/most of his campaign promises. He's still working on universal healthcare. He reacted promptly to the golf oil spill. And his international relations tactics are successful. I continue to be very pleased with him. Wow what a soap box I'm on...I apologize.
So, when it came down to the inauguration I knew I had to go. I tried to get tickets to see him speak along the campaign trail many times and everything fell through. My friend Kelly and I bought tickets to go to the ball at the Yorktown Hotel. I was very excited! I came home from Eastern in Philly and had my dress all ready to go! The night before the big event my roommate, Maggie, called me and told me she just got two passes to sit in the front section...with the celebs and congress men and women! I was shitting myself! (That language is appropriate for this occasion.) I couldn't believe it! I drove back to Philly immediately and then we drove to her home in Virginia.
The next day we woke up super early and took the train to DC. It was SO crowded. The line was longer than a Hershey Park line! When we got there there were about a bajillion people everywhere. We got to sit in the orange section. We went through crazy security. I saw Tyra Banks, J.Lo and Marc Anthony(they are so short!). I saw Beyonce, Oprah, Condoleezza Rice, Ted Kennedy, and more! Jesse Jackson gave Maggie and I the thumbs up! It was the coldest day of my life but the most unbelievable. I called my dad and he was watching it on TV, he could year Yo Yo Ma playing in the background before it was on his TV. After it was over the subways were so crowded they ended up getting shut down. My mind immediately went to 'I'm stranded in DC forever' but I didn't even care because I was so high from what was going on.
I will NEVER EVER EVER forget that I experienced that historical day upclose and personal. I am forever grateful to Maggie. It was a life changer.