January 20, 2009

I’ve been gearing up for tomorrow’s inauguration all day – and by gearing up, I mean mentally getting really, really excited and overwhelmed and grateful for all that tomorrow will mean. I feel like I have all this excitement and energy building – and no where to put it, being in a frozen midwestern state and all. So, I’ve been perusing some of my favorite DC-located blogs and articles and reports of the MLK day and pre-inaugural events, the concert with U2 (and here is a message from Bono about the ONE Campaign after the concert as well), all the pundits reporting from DC or about DC or looking back to our history or looking forward to what might be. It is helpful to get a taste of what others are feeling and seeing and sensing in these moments – like our friend who lives in DC and blogged about her downtown trip with millions of other folks today (thanks for sharing, Tara!) I LOVE picturing where all this momentuous stuff is happening, seeing the every day and the impressive tangled up between monuments and porta-potties like her blog entry gives a taste of. It wasn’t too many years ago that I “worked out of DC” and so spent 4-6 weeks each year roaming the politically charged streets of DC. Sometimes I miss the energy, the purpose that everyone hurriedly walked toward, the black suits and smart hair cuts and (always) the nice shoes (although most of the time I do not miss the insane pressure that was also normal in that culture!) What a space to be filled with expectation, wonder, questions, gratitude, and just plain a lot of people tomorrow.  Wow – I can’t really soak it all in somehow…

Tomorrow, I will simply be watching the historic events happening here at home, along with some family and friends, pointing out Obma on the screen to Eva and telling her nine-month-old self all about him. Even though I won’t be able to be swept up into day’s magic in person, I know that tomorrow will be a day I will remember. And of course, all of the nation – all of the world in many ways – will be swept up in the reality of the US having a new president and what it means for the rest of all time. As Tara’s blog entry said, I am filled with gratitude. And I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!