Pack up warm clothes--forget hand and toe warmers purchased the day before; will pay dearly for that memory lapse on Tuesday--and ball outfits and head off to train for Washington.
Pick up tickets and check in to hotel in Virginia. Hotel is headquarters for Native American ball, lobby full of men, women and children with great hair and fabulous outfits featuring lots of beading and jewelry.
Head back to DC for dinner with Josh and Asha at Indian restaurant where we overeat of course.
Tuesday:
6:30 AM Wake up with terrible heartburn. Get dressed in multiple layers while berating the fact that I have forgotten essential hand and toe warmers. Have absolutely nothing to eat or drink for breakfast for fear that food might trigger major event during the day with portapotty only option available, if that.
7:15 Arrive at Metro stop with hordes of similarly bundled humanity. Unable to get onto first three trains due to excessive crowding; Finally manage to press ourselves into one for a long cloee up and personal ride with frequent stops and slowdowns due to heavy traffic on the line.
8:30 Get off Metro and walk three blocks to entrance to Blue Gate. Wait in line for almost three hours, once again bemoaning lack of hand and toe warmers. Crowd is amazingly diverse and amazingly happy. Joy is definitely in the air.
11:30 Finally arrive at entrance. Refuse to turn back. Go through security (No wonder line was sooooooo long and slow--only six scanners for thousands and thousands and thousands of people.)
11:45 Sprint to standing area--not easy when you are dressed like the Michelen tire man. Scramble through bushes, past row of portapotties--thank god I don't have to use one--just in time to hear the swearing in and Obama's incredible speech. (Missed Aretha but I figure I'll replay her on YouTube.) Don't see much except the bright white of the Capitol dome against the blue sky but feel the spirit along with everyone standing beside me. Much spontaneous hugging, kissing, dancing, crying.
1:00 Walk about 10-15 blocks back to Union Station with celebrating crowds for hot lunch. Finally use the bathroom.
2:30 Decide to try and take Metro back to hotel for pre-ball nap. Instead run into total gridlock caused by too many people trying to get in and out of the station. Steve nearly arrested trying to make a break across a barricade. Despite the discomfort and disruption, the crowd is amazingly good natured and compliant.
4:30 Pound the pavements for another hour or so trying to find an alternative Metro stop since many stops are closed for heightened security.
5:30 At last, get on subway for half hour ride back to hotel while we listen to everyone's wonderful inauguration stories.
6 PM Pull off boots, collapse on bed and wonder how we will have the strength to do it all over again that night.
7:00 Drag myself out of bed, into the shower and into my party duds--20 yr. Moschino Cheap and Chic dress (does this qualify as vintage) accessorized by my Indian jewelry (Asian, not Native American though come to think of it I could have done that too, maybe more appropriate, although I saw Michelle sparkled with diamonds and she looked great, didn't she?) and a pair of satin mules, definitely not walking shoes.
8:00 Get in cab for trip to DC. Driver claims he can't get us near the Convention Center because of street closings but will do best he can. Best he can is over a mile away. So on we go in the freezing cold, feet already crippled from our 12 hour marathon earlier that day, in high heels not made for city streets, necessitating a slow but steady pace.
8:45 Arrive at Convention Center where I see many cabs dropping off many ball goers. Our cab driver obviously hated us and wanted us to suffer.
9-11:30 Drink and dance some but mostly wander around looking at everyone and feeling good about being there and being part of it. Stay until Biden and wife arrive with good looking family and then of course, wait for the grand entrance of Barack and Michelle. Saw it all and loved it all.
11:45 Out on the street again knowing what lies ahead--a long trudge to the subway but this time doesn't feel so bad. Maybe I'm beyond pain plus I've got the experiences of the day and the night to sustain me.
12:15 Get on subway and don't even mind when a young person get us to let me sit down.
12:45 Complete collapse.
Wednesday
Arrive home. Steve immediately gets into steam shower. I vow to call the podiatrist first thing Thursday morning.
3 comments:
I CANNOT believe you wore those shoes. I love the photos and the whole account. I am so glad it was you and not me.
I watched it all on TV and then watched it all over again. I LOVED the poem by Elizabeth Alexander. I LOVED Aretha's hat. I LOVED the Iztak, YoYo, Anthony, Gabriela quartet. I LOVED the NASA lunar explorer to end the parade. I LOVED the President in his white tie.
I still cannot believe your shoes. I would have had my MBTs and hid my feet under my gown. Or not hid.
Amazing grit and perseverance and hats off to both Steve and you for sticking with the program. True stalwarts. So proud of you!
Wasn't it amazing, Ellen?! I'm still absorbing all of the amazing vibes from the last few days. What a high. By the way, my feet looked exactly like yours late Tuesday night. I barely made it out of the ball before I had my shoes off. But worth every minute!
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