What a day and what a weekend. I've been meaning to blog for a while now - a lot has been happening and much could be said by way of updating - but all that will have to wait, because today is post-worthy all by itself.
how do I describe the incredible feeling of being part of something so monumental (ha..dc...monuments..ha...) and historic that it can blow.one's.mind. just thinking about it??
Six of us biked down to the Mall, anticipating huge crowds and lots of fervor. we were not disappointed. first of all - OK IT WAS FREEZING. like, not EVEN freezing. it would have been NICE to REACH freezing. so that was obstacle #1. no worries: 4 bottom layers and 6 top layers later, I wouldn't describe myself as toasty, but surely grateful for each one of them. also I had a glove/mitten combo and some headgear (not for the mouth) that made everything *except* the feet pretty well taken care of. 
We decided not to attempt the sea of immensity that was ever closer to the Capitol. Instead, we opted for the bank of the hill upon which is placed the Washington Monument. Not bad. We could see the jumbotron (pictures had to be fully zoomed to see the image on the screen, but no worries, we saw it) and there were plenty of speakers set up so we could hear everything that was going on. It was me, some former & current housemates, and a million of our closest friends. oh hey :)
When I post more of these pictures on facebook, I'll be sure to come back to this post and include the link so all can enjoy. (here you go)
I have not been a part of any other Inauguration, but it was very clear even to me that something was different about this one. There was camaraderie, there were pep-chants (O-BA-MA!), there were people chatting it up that would never have spoken before (oh you're from Detroit? I was born and raised there!...etc). also there were a LOT of people there, and wow...what a feeling to be part of a crowd that is just a fraction of those who have begun to imagine again a new role for the United States - a new vision, a new possibility for a better reputation, a new resolve to stay true to the basic principles that formed this nation, a new strategy to pursue peace and justice and service and compassion....I believe I was breathing some fresh new air...and it was invigorating.
there are definitely policy areas where I don't agree with Obama or his new Cabinet members. But what I truly appreciate is his tenor, his tone, his perspective that smacks of a humble recognition of the enormity of what lies ahead. there's such a contrast between a leader that says, hey, we are in a mess and it will take time and cooperation to figure things out, and I'm not as much worried about who gives the good ideas as the fact that good ideas are being created and worked on....with the leader that says - hey, the country voted me in, EREGO I'm the boss, and this is how things will work - MY way and we're always right and America is just amazing and will always be and don't you forget it. that last sentiment is, how you say, stale, moldy, immature, and destructive reasoning that only got us into deep deep ... critical crappy crises.
alright - 2009 has begun, President Barack Obama has begun (circulating the many inaugural balls), and I will again return to regular reflecting (mostly for my sake, but maybe for the sake of a larger opportunity to dialogue...so please always feel free to email, comment, or call about anything you read...).
I leave you with an excerpt from my prayer for 2009 (from Ted Loder's Guerrillas of Grace, "I praise you for what is yet to be"): (and adapted to "we" language)
"I praise you
that you turn us loose
to go with you to the edge of now and maybe,
to welcome the new,
to see our possibilities,
to accept our limits,
and yet begin living to the limit
of passion and compassion
until, released by joy,
we uncurl to other people
and to your kingdom coming,
for you are gracious beyond all telling of it.
