Okay Everyone! I'm back, and with quite a weekend finished. I'll breeze through the Albuquerque stuff and get to the good part though.
So I went to New Mexico for the Western Regional Leadership Conference for the NEA Friday through Sunday. I met some really cool people and learned a lot about the teacher's union. I am new to all of it and didn't know much, but I fed into all the propaganda and really believe in this stuff. The NEA is a pretty cool association with education needs and the needs of teachers at the center. I heard the head of NEA, Dennis Van Roekel, speak and it was amazing. He is quite a speech giver and had the whole audience on their feet by the end. So, pretty much I learned some neat things about the future of education and the need for the union.
I only got away from the hotel one night, so mom and I went to "Old Town." It's basically a tourist trap with Southwest-style souvenir shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant our cabdriver recommended, and it wasn't that great. The Mexican food we have here in Utah is much better.
Anyway, we got home Sunday and repacked for Washington D.C. With any early flight time, Mom and I got to the airport at 5 or so to get through security and everything. Once we landed in Baltimore, the adventure began. The airport had a booth specifically for helping people coming to town for the inauguration. Mom asked a helpful lady what we should do and got all the maps and information we could use. Outside the terminal, we needed to catch a bus to take us to the beginning of the Metro system. So we met our first line :)
People on the bus were really friendly. We caught onto the spirit and chatted with those around us. I met a guy from Boston, and a mother daughter pair from Vermont. They were all shocked to hear we flew in from Utah. I got talking to the Boston guy and he asked me about the church and, of course, Proposition 8. I couldn't dodge the question so I answered as best I could. It may not have been church approved, but I was honest and stuck up for the sanctity of marriage as best I could. That was the only Mormon question I got the whole time.
We got to the Metro station 30 minutes later and found our first "long" line. I'd say easily a thousand people were waiting in line to buy passes for the metro. Again, people were really nice. We met some people from North Carolina. Some random lady cut in line so we were complaining about it and became fast friends.
After standing in the wrong line for 30 minutes (we were in the line for one way rates and we wanted to buy day passes to use the next day) we bought enough fair to get us to Doug's stop and boarded a train. Anyway, we met more people and exchanged stories and hometowns with more people. Doug picked us up and drove us to his house where we met up with Sara and Cameron. Cameron is so much bigger than I saw her last, talking and giggling, and sweet as ever. I realized I haven't seen her since this time last year at my niece's blessing. We went to dinner and talked all evening. They are very good hosts.
Doug, Sara, Mom, and I packed up and bundled up the next morning and left for the metro at about 8. And then the real line standing and crowd fighting started. The crowds were insane and we got separated from Doug because they kept opening and closing the metro station. Police Officers would close off the entrance until the platform cleared of people and then they would let more people down. We finally got down to the platform and waited for a train. Five or so went by before we finally crammed in--literally-- to a train that could barely hold more people. Doug and Sara were able to get on a train before us because the people mom and I were shoving into flatly refused to let us on. Not taking no for an answer the next time, we barged our way in and were on our way. Now having a personal knowledge of what sardines feel like, we went from stop to stop until we got downtown. We caught up with Doug and Sara who were in line to get into the Silver standing area (that is what our tickets were for). The line was a good four blocks long and the inauguration was starting in an hour.
Depressed and feeling hopeless, Sara and I went exploring. People we talked to made it sound like we were never getting in. "The line is too long." "Security is no longer letting anyone in." "Even if you get in, you can't see." So we radioed (we remembered walkie-talkies and good thing too since there was hardly any cell phone service) Doug and mom to join us at the front of the line. I know it isn't honest, but I didn't fly in from Utah to stand in a never moving line and not see the inauguration. So we cut in line and shoved our way through. The crowd was literally body to body people. I've never been closer to people in my life, but no one didn't care. We all had the same goal in mind: getting into the inauguration. Once we forced our way through the security blocking area, we were jubilant. Jumping and screaming with joy. We had lost Doug somewhere and couldn't reach him, but we knew was in somewhere.
I stopped to use one of the 4000 port-a-potties, and mom and I lost Sara. The two of us stayed together though. Doug eventually found us. His extra height helped him pick out mom's hair in the crowd. We radioed Sara and through arm waving and calling eventually found her too. Our location wasn't too bad either. We had a great view of the Capitol Building and were right next to some speakers. We heard every word.
So here is what the experience felt like:
Incredible, once in a lifetime, amazing, powerful, hopeful, joyful, legendary, and . . . fill in your own adjective with a positive connotation. People were yelling and jumping for joy. President Obama's speech was powerful and the spirit of his words are something I will never forget. A lot has happened politically for our nation, and I think President Obama knows the stakes of failure. No matter who you voted for in the election, I think we are looking into a bright future with Obama driving our nation. I'm excited. I'm excited about what he stands for, about his intentions, about his message of hope and change. I'll never forget that day. Especially when I caught my first glimpse of the First Family. Mom and I stuck around for the parade (well the part where the President got in his limo and drove down the street). The sun was at just the right angle so I could see through the tint of the car and could see the First Family waving back. I almost cried it was so cool. I got to witness and be a part of history first hand. Now I have photos and tickets to frame for my future grand kids to ask questions about the time I got to be around when the United States elected our first African American President. I don't know, I think it is pretty cool.
The day ended with Mom and I getting in another line for the metro and heading back for Doug's (they left earlier to reunite with Cameron and the babysitter. I'm sure his blog will have their story of walking back to Virginia soon). That evening, I met up with my dear friend, Casey Chadwick. He is stationed there in the ceremonial guard of the Navy. We hung out most of the night until he got called in to cover the night shift. Poor guy. He had (got to) usher for the seated areas at the inauguration. He had a great view. It was really great to see him. There is nothing quite like being reunited with a close friend to end such a perfect day.
So I made it back safe and sound, but exhausted to boot. I started teaching again today; I must say I really missed my students. On class even planned a return party for me. They brought sodas, cookies, doughnuts, fudge, and other miscellaneous goodies, and wrote "Welcome Back Ms. Olsen" on the board and signed their names. They are sweet kids. Don't worry, it was business as usual, we just had refreshments to go along with the learning. :)
I need to end by saying thanks to Doug and Sara. They were great hosts and made us very comfortable. Doug even got up early (4 a.m.) and drove us to the airport. Much thanks and love.
So that's my story. I put together a slide show, but pictures don't really do the spirit of the event justice. Anyway, enjoy.
