Obama's New Playground

Out of laziness and fear of getting frostbitten or maybe feeling claustrophobic, I missed what is already being recognized as and will forever be considered an unforgettable event. When my children, or nieces and nephews are grown, they will be asked by their teachers to ask someone old enough to remember, "Where were you when O.J. was ruled innocent?,"(answer: phys ed class in the locker room, we heard it on the radio), "Where were you when Princess Diana died?," (answer: my basement with Megtar, sobbing over some teen drama, sorry Diana but we weren't sure if you were really gone, the newcasters kept changing their minds) and now... finally "Where were you when America's first African American president gave his inaugural address?"

For that last question the answer will be easy but not exactly exciting. While I'm sure it was much warmer and more comfortable sitting in front of a big TV surrounded by editors, writers, our outreach team, IT team, and lawyers from the office next door, some of whom were a little teary. I am a little saddened not to have been there. Having spent four years in Washington DC, the Lincoln Memorial has special meaning to me, I've slid down its "banisters" with friends until of course the police told us not to. With my running partner, Susan, I've run up the steps and stopped for water in the underground museum's bathroom a few hundred times, (Susan and I are the Where's Waldos in the back of every tourist photo). The Reflection Pool is where I stood for an anti-war vigil, my first, though I never tramped through the water as Forrest Gump, it was still pretty cool. So, yes it might have been nice to make one more memory there, to welcome President Obama to his beautiful new neighborhood, my old one, but I'll make sure to be there in 2013.

PS. If you missed any part of the inauguration or want to relive the celebration, including reading Obama's inaugural address. Find the best sites for doing so here.