I worked with one eye on my laptop all morning so that I could watch live stream coverage of Obama's Inauguration. Somehow, the crazy fates were good to me and I was rarely troubled during my day by people passing through. In fact, no one even mentioned it; not a single person. It was just an ordinary winter day when I looked out the window. The rest of the world was riveted, and at least I felt distantly connected. I didn't even mention to the people around me what they were missing out on. I didn't want to share it with anyone who didn't care about it enough to be seeking it out on their own. If you weren't someone who grinned from within by seeing Dink Cheney slumped in a wheelchair, I didn't want to see you today anyway.
If I'd had my way, I would have stayed at home to watch it. At the very least, though, being at work, I would have called in the crew to watch, at least, Obama's actual swearing in. Ten quick magical minutes. Regardless of whether or not the guys are interested in American politics, whether they are staunch conservatives who think McCain was robbed (and believe me, I hear that more often than not), in time, it may well be an important social moment like Princess Diana's funeral or the moon landing* or when Kennedy was shot and they're going to have no idea where they were when.
Speaking of JFK, was I the only one who got nervous when the cannons were fired after Obama was sworn in? That shit made me jumpy. My only hope was that Aretha Franklin's hat would shield them all. I have heard too many times the pessimistic rednecks speculating on how soon his life will be threatened. (I don't even want to write what they really say.) And don't get me wrong- they don't want that to happen or anything, they just think it's inevitable, so they have to mention it all the time to be on record as someone who "called it". They're the same people who didn't really understand why we've all been angry with George Bush for 8 years, but jumped on the bandwagon around October of this past year, so I don't even respond to them now. It would be like someone explaining Star Trek to me; a day late, a dollar short and utterly pointless.
Thirteen hours later I'm still watching the coverage with the same enthusiasm. I have twice watched Michelle & Barack's first dance of the evening, serenaded by Beyonce, and cried both times. I haven't cried since November, the night the election was won. I've even stubbed my toes a few times in between then and now, and nothing, but this guy, the inspiration is palpable, even from here. And the love he has for his wife- they are so caught up in each other, they're making the whole world go into heat. A lot of babies are going to be born nine months from tonight, in lucky October. Let's track it.
And, because this blog is nothing if not all about me, check out this Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon:
Obama is a good friend of Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder's friend and personal chef is the sister of my friend Jody's sister's fiance. They hang out. I should probably be at one of the Balls right now. With Star Jones. I'd walk up and ask her to dance. When she replies, I'll loudly say, "Oh sorry, no thanks, I just said YOU LOOK FAT IN THOSE PANTS!
That is my goal for this night, 2012.
* That's if they really landed on the moon. Depending on the day, I believe both yes and no. I sort of hope no. Thoughts?
But how connected is he to Lou Diamond Phillips?
Posted by: MegaTwatty | January 22, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Well I'll tell you:
Pastor Rick Warren was Obama's choice to do the Inaugural prayer. Melissa Etheridge met with Rick Warren to discuss his opposition to Prop 8 recently, and then released a statement proclaiming him to be a pretty decent guy. Melissa Etheridge's former partner of many years, Julie Cypher was married to Lou Diamond Phillips when she met and began an affair with Melissa Etheridge.
That was easy. Next?
Posted by: sircomfrey | January 22, 2009 at 06:02 PM