Pomp Pageantry and History
From our friend Timmy’s large flat screen TV in Sarasota, Florida, I watched Inauguration Day while Joe and Timmy (who only watched the start of it) played golf. Like the Academy Awards or an elaborate royal wedding, the pomp, pageantry and history had me glued to my front row comfy chair seat. That’s Joe in his commemorative inaugural T-shirt designed and sold by our Floyd friends at Green Label who offer 100% organic clothing.
It all really sunk in for me; the momentous occasion was crystallized when violinist Itzhak Perlman played Simple Gifts, a Shaker hymn I’ve sung often with others at community gatherings in Floyd. It was a meditative and surreal few moments that brought tears to my eyes.
I had to wait patiently to get a photo of Barack smiling.
I love his smile and he didn’t really break it out until he was walking to Whitehouse during the parade.
Poet Elizabeth Alexander asked “What if the mightiest word is love?” She also said this in her poem “Praise Song for the Day” – Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of … and … In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, any thing can be made, any sentence begun. On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp, praise song for walking forward in that light.
Barack and Michele spent the evening before the inauguration in acts of service in celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Have I died and gone to heaven? 
Joe, who grew up in Maryland and near D.C. worked at Sasha Bruce Youth Shelter in D.C., one of the places the Obama’s spent time in service. We were watching TV coverage when a scene of Barack painting walls at the shelter came up. Joe saw one of his old friends in the shot.
I admit that I was slightly nervous when Barack and Michele got out of the limousine to walk during the parade. I was encouraged to see a feisty sign that read “Arrest Bush,” and was irritated by the term “non-believers” that Barack used in his speech in an effort to unify people of all faiths. People who don’t practice any organized religion are not necessarily non-believers and some non-religious people are the most spiritual people I know. I prefer the term “non-religious.” 
The largest inauguration crowd in history came out to celebrate, “a man whose father, less than 60 years ago, might not have been served in a local restaurant” and who “can now stand before you and take a most sacred oath.” Watching everyone navigate the freezing temperatures brought back memories of the marches I did in D.C. to protest the invasion of Iraq (photo HERE.) I wore wool long johns and a down parka to the one that took place on January 17, 2003. Since that day six years ago so much damage has been done. I haven’t been able to relax, but now with Barack in power I’m starting to. With a deep breath and a sense of relief, I can finally say, let the repair and the healing begin.
January 21st, 2009 12:18 pm
WONDERFUL Post, Colleen….I too watched all day and night and came to tears many many times, with the enormity of what was taking place and how far we have come…..That Quartet was PERFECT! And I LOVED the Poem….The night before on Tavis Smiley’s PBS program, he had on Maya Angelou who spoke of tgis talented young poet in such glowing loving terms—I was ready to embrace her, and she did not disappoint, did she?
What A Day, What A Day…..Something that people will remember forever. And now the work starts and like you, I feel good about it. There is someone at the Helm who moves with Intelligence and Heart and Deep Compassion, AND Incredible strength….!
January 21st, 2009 12:23 pm
I’m still riding high today. We stayed up late watching Tavis’s overview with clips from all his past interviews with Barack. I got the idea of taking pictures of the TV from you, Naomi and I did think of you yesterday.
Some research revealed that Alexander was only the 4th inaugural poet, others being Robert Frost, Maya Angelou and Miller Williams. But I can’t imagine such an event without the voice of a poet being included.
January 21st, 2009 1:48 pm
We got to watch it in the conference room at work yesterday…did you listen to Reverend Lowry’s benediction? The highlight, I tell you!!!
January 21st, 2009 2:04 pm
Did I already mention that I thought Alexander reminded me of Mara? Her tone and inflection…I could have closed my eyes and not known it wasn’t Mara. Another cute moment was when Sasha gave her dad a thumbs up as he was leaving the platform.
January 21st, 2009 2:55 pm
Excellent commentary on this most auspicious day. I caught the “non-believer” thing too and winced. I prefer your term also. But all in all it was a really special display.
January 21st, 2009 5:05 pm
I watched almost every minute of it; alternately crying and smiling, but always proud of America and how far she has come (while realizing we have a long way to go.)
January 21st, 2009 6:51 pm
I wonder if anyone else watching was like us and wondered how they had the stamina to make it through such a long day! I really enjoyed the whole day. And I love Joe’s T-shirt. I’ve been buying more and more organic clothing. I actually found a great sage green organic top at the Closet for a dollar! I was delighted.
January 21st, 2009 7:14 pm
It was a great day!!
I can remember when we first saw him and we could barely say his name, but we thought he would make a good president
I loved the part you mentioned in the speech. xo
January 21st, 2009 8:30 pm
I was also moved by “Simple Gifts”—so simple, so profound, so powerful, and so perfect. And I loved it when the TV cameras showed the faces of the people in the crowd—faces so full of hope and pure joy.
January 21st, 2009 9:38 pm
I have wept again reading this post. Oh my. What a day. Simple Gifts blew me away. In fact, it’s my blog post for Friday! I think that song is the summation of Obama’s speech. Truly beautiful.
January 22nd, 2009 11:48 am
Indeed. let the healing begin. amen.
it was a beautiful song played. there’s a link (that at least worked yesterday) to it on youtube.
non-beleiver made me wince a bit too. he has so many people to please in one speech. queer and latino weren’t particularly singled out unfortunately but still by pattern of his life, all the traditionally mainstream-marginalized groups get compassion from him. a good sign.
January 22nd, 2009 8:36 pm
What a glorious day, Tuesday, and how delightful to vicariously enjoy Florida with you. We are expecting sun and 50s tomorrow. A pale shadow…. Soak up some rays and psychedelic colors for me.
January 22nd, 2009 9:38 pm
xo!
January 24th, 2009 5:54 am
We can finally breath again!!!
BTW, I was surprised, but I do understand the reason (COLD) that the performance of Yo-Yo Ma and Perlman was not live.
see here:
http://shenews.projo.com/2009/01/yoyo-ma-itzhak.html
Finding this out still didn’t change the spirit of the day. Not one bit.