inauguration

as you might imagine, the inauguration is a BIG FREAKING DEAL around these parts. they're closing all the major highways in VA inside the beltway; they're closing every bridge into the city from VA; you won't be able to drive through the heart of downtown; the metro is opening at 4am. how to get around, how many people are actually going to show up, what each person's plans for the day are, if we'll even be able to get onto the metro, whether people have to go to work... it's discussed many, many times a day, between friends, coworkers, on the radio, on the news. there are maps, tips, survival guides, suggestions to get the hell out of dodge. but no matter your feeling on the incoming president, or the inauguration itself, everyone in the area is being affected by the goings on this tuesday.

i get the impression that the prevailing mindset for most locals is of the "get out of dodge / lock yourself inside your house for the day" variety. people don't want to deal with the crowds, the traffic, the tourists, the drunkards (did i mention they're keeping the bars open extra late next week?). which i totally get. i mean, in theory. because i feel the exact opposite.

i am SO EXCITED to be downtown on tuesday. a lot of people have the day off already; i'm taking vacation time so i can make my way downtown. my original plan was to try to metro into the city, and if the metros were too crowded, walk across one of the bridges and make it in that way. i've been saved from that, however, because a friend has offered up her VERY CONVENIENTLY LOCATED apartment (10 blocks from the capitol!).. so my friends and i will crash there monday night, and then see how close we can get the next morning. ideally, i just want to be on or near the national mall for his speech. they're rigging the mall with jumbotrons and speakers, so if you can get to the mall, you should be able to get in on the action. that's the hope, anyway.

but.. man. i want to be with hundreds of thousands - possibly millions, if the estimates are to be believed - of other people who are excited about this. who don't mind waking up early and standing for several hours in horrible cold weather just for the opportunity to be THERE, be right at the capitol, when obama gives his first speech as president. i want to feel the thrill of the crowd, the mutual excitement. i want to see the beaming upturned faces as everyone watches him on the screens. i want to see the elderly black ladies weeping because they never thought they'd see this day come. i want to see the pride in peoples' eyes, knowing they helped make this happen. i want to be part of the cheering throngs. i want to be IN IT. i can't wait.