Yes We Did America!

I would be a horrible blogger if I didn't mention yesterday's events on the Gospel. Unless you live under a rock (and I'm pretty sure not even then), you know that yesterday Senator Barack Obama from the state of Illinois was inaugurated as our 44th President. It was a truly momentous day, and one that you could almost literally feel the world stop and watch.

Over the last couple days, I have watched much more of my share of inauguration coverage...from the free HBO special on Sunday to Inauguration Day coverage on multiple news networks, to the many balls that were televised Tuesday night. It was amazing to see history unveil itself right before you, and knowing that you were going to have one of those "I remember exactly where I was" memories.

Here are some of my favorite moments from the Inauguration, in no particular order. If you have any others, please feel free to comment.

1. The HBO special in general...if you get a chance to watch it, you should. It has a Farm Aid feel in a way...pretty amazing this was pulled together for a President.
2. Malia Obama taking pictures of her favorite celebrities as she saw them. I don't know why, but this made me really happy. I guess it makes me believe that Michelle and Barack have two normal girls, not two spoiled little brats.
3. Seeing 1.5 million people show up on the National Mall. Also, the fact that there were no arrests and no one was hurt.
   
4. ABC had cameras in the elementary school in Jakarta where Obama went for a while as a boy. It was close to midnight there, and one little boy in the classroom kept nodding off, but was trying so hard to stay awake. I wonder if he crashed as soon as the cameras were off.
   
5. Joe Biden walking out onto the platform, and saying "Hey!" to everyone as he walked out like he was joining a big party. I guess he kinda was.
6. Pastor Rick Warren and how he said "Malia" and "Sasha". Still cracks me up! (By the way, if you watch the linked clip...you may only want to watch the first few seconds.)
   
7. Aretha Franklin's hat.
   
8. Sasha Obama giving her dad the "thumbs up" after he finished the Oath of Office. Too cute.
9. Obama's speech. If you haven't had a chance to see or read it, you should. Nothing short of awesome.
   
10. The benediction from Rev. Joseph Lowery--particularly the line "...we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right." Some might say he was racist, but he included everyone, so I think it's just funny.
11. President Obama getting out of the limo and walking the parade route, showing that this election is not just about him, but about all Americans.
12. The first dance between Barack and Michelle...Beyonce singing "At Last" with tears in her eyes. And by the way, it's great to have a President with some killer dance moves.
13. Obama doing "the bump" with a 9th grader who was invited to The Neighborhood Ball.
    
14. President Bush flying away on the helicopter as soon as the Inauguration was over.
15. Hearing what this day meant to so many people--this was the first election I truly cared about, but to hear the stories of those who have waited much longer than me for this day to come was very touching.

UPDATE: Apparently Chief Justice Roberts re-administered the Oath of Office to President Obama today to make sure that there was no question that he was legally President (and we all know if he hadn't, someone would have been whining about it.) So Congratulations Mr. President--it's been a long road, but I'm glad we got there!