The Inauguration or How I learned to stop feeling and embrace the numbness filling my soul
I had been casually discussing going to the inauguration with a fellow Tulane MI who lived in the DC area during the fall semester. I could take a break from the endless hours of painting to skip down to DC for a little while and see a moment in history. However, with news of millions flooding into DC and horrendously crowded scenarios bouncing across the ticker of cnn, I jumped right onto the fence about this decision. As a result the Sunday before the inauguration was spent having too many conversations with myself, here is an example:
Alex: Uggg, do I really want to spend 8 hours on the bus just to be met with swirling crowds and endless lines.
Alex: Just do it
Alex: But I don’t really have any money, due to my semi-forced vacation – the doldrums of any possible career path.
Alex: Just do it.
Alex: But I just moved out of New Orleans and I am sooooo le tired.
Alex: Just do it.
Alex: You know what? I should just do it, yeah ...i am…I am just gonna do it! YAY ME!
With decision made, I began frantically calling friends to have important logistics figured out. I made plans with a friend in Boston to stay the night and chill so that I could catch the earliest bus out possible (6:30am...thanks Lynn!). Then I bought my bus ticket from NYCàDC which ended up not being till 3pm, leaving me a 3 hour window in NYC…which is just fine by me, because I miss my NYC peeps ridiculously. The three hour layover meant I could hang with my dear friends T. Vance and T. Pohliqhchrosznehe for a few moments. Finally I secured a meeting with my dearest Ryan Dunn K. Kommeh or something like that in DC. While I treasure my friends, they don’t always have the easiest names to spell, and for that, the fault definitely lies with them.
Anyway, I set out at 6:30am bound with dreams and hopes over what would be! No inaugural ticket in hand, the cold winter wind upon my brow and a little fire in my heart. I sat on the bus seat, ready to take on the voyage: *snore* *snore* *snore* and 5.5 hours later I was coming into NYC (there was a ton of traffic apparently).
*****Sidenote******
Quickly, I want to talk about my super power. Yes, I have one. It developed over time and not in some kind of X-men/I just turned 16 kind of way. No, this power was cultivated through years of mental training. I, oh I can’t believe I am about to divulge this secret! I am afraid of being used in science experiments so that my powers can come to the masses. No, I must be strong, must stand proud as the mutant I am! My power is that I fall asleep immediately upon sitting on a bus or a plane. There is something about the vibrations of the engine that harmonizes with my melatonin drip and the eyelids just close. No matter how awake I am, when those soothing engine sounds begin, I go to war with the ability to stay awake. Now you might not think this is special, but when you fly and bus a lot this little power becomes essential in order to walk off the plane/bus and get down to business.
*****End Sidenote******
Okay, so I was in New York. I am sure New York will get its own special posting, probably at some sad moment when I am missing the US, but suffice it to say, I miss and love New York immensely. If you ever have the opportunity to live there, just do it, it is a global city of incredible offerings. Anyhoo, I hung out with friends, playing Wii and quickly catching up before hightailing it back down to Chinatown for the DC bus….which was packed…more than packed.
The energy was palpable on the bus. Everyone was going for exactly the same thing, and there was no better thing to be doing at that moment. I sat next to an awesome that was originally from Ghana, but moved to Brooklyn when he was a boy and was going down to DC to make some money during the inauguration, selling inauguration goods. We shared a cigarette when our bus broke down (don’t smoke, it is terrible for you and is in no way cool, hip, nor delicious), and we talked about Africa and the unrivaled spirit inherent in so many African countries.
After a bus change and 3 more hours, I finally arrived into Chinatown DC…which was a cluster&$*%. People were everywhere, crawling ahead slowly, mingling amongst neon signs and booths promising one-of-a kind, collector’s edition, and Obama-mania inauguration souvenirs. I finally made it down to the metro where the lines for each machine were about 20 deep to buy a ticket. It was so crowded that they ended up giving free pass and I ran through during the window – which I knew would be short lived. The platforms were even more crowded, but I made it on the first train, bound for Union Station and a reunion of sorts with a fellow MI’er.
Upon walking out of Union Station, I looked to my right and noticed that walking with me was the Rev. Al Sharpton. I have this strong belief in leaving public figures alone, so I just relished the moment silently as we walked side by side in the shadow of the capital. I met up with Ryan and her friend Monica and proceeded to mingle with Ryan’s friends and eventually crash (we had to be up at 4:45 in order to get to the public area of the mall).
*****Day of the Inauguration*****
Beep, Beep….”Alex…are you gonna turn that off?” Beep, Beep….”Alex!”
I was in the middle of dreaming and not in the mood to arise from my glorious slumber. Finally, upon realizing where I was, and the situation ahead of me, I turned the alarm off and got up. Me and Monica got ready and were the first to leave as everyone else in the house had tickets and we were the only ones braving the general public area. We were in a line by 5:30, but the line seemed sketchy. There were police officers saying that they would open this gate at 7am, however the “gate” was just a back alleyway near the capital and we had been told we would be able to get on the mall way before 7am. We waited for maybe 5 minutes, until we overheard a girl saying that there was a gate open across the mall. This necessitated a walk through the tunnel at 3rd street (usually a roadway) and then a walk up to 7th to then enter the mall. I became a part of a mass migration - thousands of people meandering down a metropolitan tunnel way too early in the morning.
Upon reaching the 7th street gate, we were then told that this gate too would not open until 7am and that we would have to go down to 12th street to get in now. While these distances seem short, one has to remember that one had to claw his way through throngs of confused people in order to go anywhere…in the dark and cold… Finally, we found a small little back way that was open to the mall and we were free to roam! I looked at my phone and realized we had about four and a half hours until anything started.
Waiting and pushing. These were the two words that defined those first few hours. People were trying to make their way closer even though there was no ability to achieve this idea of ‘closer.’ I bonded with the group next to me in trying to create a barrier from the throngs of people trying to get to the rumor of a throughway to the section closer to the capital (this was simply a rumor and did not really exist). Around 9am my feet began to go numb. I had worn very thick wool socks, but apparently they were not enough…they just went numb and I tried my best to keep them moving. Then I got hungry…there was no food…or there was, but it was impossible to get to and the line was apparently, to quote Rachel Zoe, Bananas. (That was for Rodrigo and Kathy).
At around 10am the energy became palpable. We were getting closer to the event and we had been out in the cold, at the center of our nation’s capital to show our support for this moment and this country. As the time ticked on, I looked across the crowd. I have never been in such a densely populated area that was so filled with joy, smiles and excitement. My little area was a microcosm for the American experience: Black, White, Latino, Japanese, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim, we were all there together, rejoicing in the promise of our American system.
The announcements began introducing the various govt. personnel who were present (diplomats, Supreme Court, house, senate, etc.). Certain cheers were heard for various people, and the Bush came on the video screen. He was walking down a hall in the capital and the entire crowd erupted into a simultaneous boo. It may have not been couth in the moment, but in my opinion, it represents one of the most American things you can do. We are allowed to show our distaste for a leader, we are allowed to openly boo a sitting president! While I do not condone the act, I respect the right to perform the act. The booing became a cacophony of disgust over 8 years of angst, false promises and outright lies that citizen’s had felt from a leader who, in their minds, had betrayed them.
And then it became the Obama show. Silence led up to his name being announced. A quite calm filled in every inch, with energy and expectation. He emerged and the crowd lost it. Flags waving, voices screaming and smiles beaming, we were a people united (at least there on the mall), screaming the name of the man that many think will restore Americas place.
A quick explanation needs to be given. I think the best way to describe the experience was almost one of monarchy. Here were people completely drunk with the vapors of history surrounding them and ready to pledge absolute devotion. The world was simple for one instant. The past 8 years were bad and this man standing before 2 million people was a savior of sorts. While I do not buy into this dogma, at that moment, it was true. He put his hand on Lincoln’s bible and then flubbed his lines; he was one of us (we later learned that it was actually Roberts who messed up). With a quick phrase, he became our president and the crowd exploded yet again.
I’m not gonna lie, his speech brought a few tears to my eyes. It was just impossible not to with 2 million people standing around you all listening to brilliant words, experiencing a brilliant moment. I wanted to capture that feeling and be able to give it to people in two years, when perhaps the novelty wears off and people begin to lose hope again.
With all the speeches and performances over, including an interesting performance by Aretha Franklin's hat, we proceeded to exit - with 2 million other people. It was insanity, but joyous insanity. As i meandered through the streets trying to find something to eat (I hadn't eaten all day!), I noticed the ex-president's helicopter flying over DC. I wonder what he was thinking at that moment, watching people of every creed and color coming together to celebrate a new era. Now I hope that he can do it.
