Jason,
Thanks for writing all of these reports. I know between all of the walking, the cold, and traveling you must be tired. We appreciate it. I know you will come back even more motivated to answer the call that Barack Obama has put forth for our generation.
Here is Jason's latest report:
Brian,
This blogging gig is tough. Every time I need to sleep I feel like I need to sit down and write something. I have a new appreciation for you and Marie.
I would love to describe today in some sweeping emotional tones but to be honest Im just too tired. You saw it on television. You believe in change. You don't need me. We are all here together in spirit. Thanks for reading this and know you all have my love. I'll just try to give you the facts to the little bits that your missing (or not missing).
We started early today watching TV to see if traffic was impossible or the metro was our best bet. By about 630 my sister decided that we were stupid enough to try to drive all the way to union station.
Stupid like a fox! Apparently everyone else chickened out from driving because we drove 10 miles in seven minutes and had no problems . Every 3 or so blocks we'd hit a military checkpoint but we'd just say " were going to union station" and our boys in camo would smile and let us through.
The line into the inauguration was long but not too unwieldy. It took us a good hour and a half to get through but it was little to ask to be a part of this important occasion. Once in we had a good spot just 200 yds from the podium. I was happy as a clam but my 5'4 sister wasn't quite in the clear spot that I was in. I would normally feel pity for her but when she was coming back from the facilities she literally bumped into Samuel S Jackson who was waking with Mariah Carey. Almost makes it worth the 8 degree temperature.
The inaugural was amazing. I know most of you saw it so theres no reason to recap. The only thing you may have missed was that every time the announcer said "please be seated" we all cracked up because there was not a piece of dirt left to sit on. My only other non-viewable moment was when the presidential motorcade arrived. The crowd went crazy with excitement and love...... then someone realized the president in the motorcade was W. The crowd then immediately bursted into boos. To be honest I thought the crowd was a little tacky but funny nonetheless.
Later in the evening we headed to the official western ball. It was a fantastic event with people from all over the western states dancing and celebrating the new president. When Obama spoke the crowd was much louder than any other time in the day and the feeling of victory was finally complete. I've been to hundreds of concerts over the years and dozens of political rallies but never have a seen so many people together in a sense of purpose.
The night went well overall. If Jay Kapitz has some story about me forgetting one of the tickets and my sister having to rickshaw 20 blocks to go find it I have to say that Kapitz is a pretty shady character and I wouldn't believe a word he says.
Not bad seats!
Thanks for motivating me to do it Brian.
Jason, blogging is a piece of cake compared to what you do for a living. Brian and I don't run into burning buildings (unless you are speaking metaphorically, I guess).
Sleep is overrated.
Good job on the posts. I've enjoyed reading them. Loved your line about Bono.
Hey, is Samuel S Jackson any relation to Samuel L Jackson? LOL--just kidding. Amazing you were able to get the post out on such little sleep. It's been great to read all the posts on Brian's blog from others who were there.
I think your impressions were pretty much the same as mine, except I'm much more critical of the DC police and the way Homeland Security/TSA once more made the whole day a complete nightmare (I lived in the DC area for 8+ years, so I'm used to their bumbling). Not having a contingency plan for getting people out of the ticketed areas really showed a deep lack of planning--it was particularly noticeable given the large number of elderly and disabled who were in the crowd.
The crowds were amazing, for the most part, although I did have a couple of bad experiences with late-comers wanting my space, which wasn't particularly choice to begin with. But the good karma that has enveloped the city over the last several days put everyone in a good mood, and I've never seen such a large group of people so helpful to one another in my life. We need to bottle this and drink it every day!