My Week in DC

My anger has subsided - somewhat. My memories of the trip have been purified - somewhat. It is now time to post my week in its entirety.

A few months back when I was really confidant in the outcome of the election I agreed to go teach for Close Up during the inauguration. It has been 5 years since I started teaching at Close Up and 4 years since the last time I did it. Try thinking of a job you did 4 years ago and think about how it would feel to go back. Yes, it was very strange. But it was nice to be back. I really feel that I got to know DC in an intimate way that most don't because I spent my days going to new places and seeing new things. It was a great job and a great experience. This time was really no different, but the trip surrounding the teaching is what was a bit trying.

I left Saturday the 17th. My flight delayed a bit as they fixed something on the plane. I must admit having mechanics work on your flight just before you take off is a bit unnerving but nonetheless we took off about 1 hour late. The problem? I was connecting in Minneapolis and they would have to hold the flight for me if I was going to make it. When the plane landed they rattled off flights that were being held and mine wasn't one of them. I found out later it was because it was delayed all on its own - but not by much. I ran through Minneapolis and barely made the flight. Problem: my bag didn't.

I got to DC where I was to go straight to the hotel, meet my staff, meet my kids, and sit down for a formal meeting with the teachers that brought their students - all in my ripped jeans and screen-printed black t-shirt. Awesome. Luckily my bag showed up later - even though they warned me it might not. I also waited for about an hour being assured that things were backed up and it is coming. Finally when I recognized no one else - not even the Wee Sing lady was there anymore - I knew I was in trouble.

The week went okay as I struggled to remember what I was supposed to do, standing on the bus while moving, the significance of the Marine Corp. Memorial etc...


On Sunday we were having lunch in the Reagan International Trade Building which is right by the mall so we could be on time for the Concert. What some idiot didn't think about is flooding a food court with 3000+ Close Up kids would NOT be a good idea. It took us forever to get in and when we got there we had to wait in horrendous lines for lunch. Then gathering all my kiddies to walk to the Mall for the concert took a good 45 mins on its own. It was quite miserable but we all made it alive. Albeit barely alive. My poor little Shareen was the worse off. She chose to not wear socks this fine day and her feet were covered in blisters. She didn't want to walk any closer to the stage and so like a good teacher....I left her there. :-) Hey - I wasn't going to miss Bono.

Tuesday - the day I came out for and the day that ruined the trip.

I got up at 3:30 in the morning to get the kids off with their teacher. Then I gleefully went back to bed because I had a ticket and my gates wouldn't open until 9 AM. At 7 AM I got up and out the door. Almost instantly I was greeted with massive crowds. I was supposed to meet Arlyn and Colin at their hotel but instead I was pushed onto a train - the wrong one - and I was going to have to meet them in the city. Unfortunately millions were on their cell phones and making calls were sporadic and very difficult to maintain.

I got into the city about 8:00 AM an hour to gates opening. I began my walk towards the mall while trying to find out where Colin and Arlyn was. Finally we got our phone call through and we were to meet at 6th street and C street...well I got there and so did Colin but were weren't there together. Why? We were in different quadrants. It would be like Colin was at 300 South and 300 East and I was at 300 South and 300 West. Ugh. He was on the other side of the Mall. I told Colin to find the entrance himself and I would fend for myself. It felt like that scene in Titanic when everyone realizes the ship is going down and suddenly it is each person for themselves.


Through this process I was told to go to three different entrances each of which shut down when they got overwhelmed with people and so we were told to go to a different place. Finally I found the 3rd street tunnel. A couple miles later I was on the other side of the mall. Finally at about 10 o'clock I found the line for the blue gate and Colin. It was a happy moment, believe me. No directions, no signs, misinformation, it was an absolute MESS.

The line was moving slowly and we knew Constitutionally Obama would have to take the oath at 12. So we had two hours. It wasn't enough.

We got pretty close and we were stuck in a mob of people. I was worried the mob was going to get out of control but they stayed calm. But we had no speakers, no screen. We only knew what the random person yelled out after talking on the phone with their loved ones watching the ceremony comfortably at their homes on their couches. Oh how I wish I were them. The crown started chanting...."Let us in" and "Yes, we can!" with an echo from others "get in!" It was just after Noon and we knew Obama was taking the oath. The crowd screamed and the cannons exploded. Then the gates closed. The word was spread to the crowd to find another way in.



We ran back and finally found an open gate where we moved toward the crowd. We saw about 2/3rd of Obama's speech and that was it. It was a disaster.


The city of DC should be ashamed. The inaugural committee should be ashamed. The Sercret Service should be ashamed. They robbed me and thousands of others the chance to see history. They robbed me and thousands of others of a moment we would never forget. Instead we were given something we wished we could.







*sigh







I should be happy. I was there. I felt the excitement. I saw George Bush fly away and the crowd cheered him along his way...



I saw the crowd dancing in excitement.








It was amazing to be there.




Okay so the rest of the week went fine. Nothing too exciting or crazy. The crowds subsided almost instantly. It was very nice. I was able to go to my favorite mexican food there Aleros and stop by my old apt. in DC.






I picked up some souveniers (one of which I asked for a extra large shirt, he gave me an 2xl and I didn't notice until I was almost to board Metro to go to the hotel. I decided to go back and get my other shirt....Nothing really was to go right) I spent one day at the American History Museum which was great. They had a great exhibit on Lincoln and when I saw these two things at both the First Lady's exhibit and the President's exhibit I got chills. It helped me realize that even though I missed the actual swearing in we will all benefit from and enjoy living under the administration of Obama.




Then I was on my way home.

I hopped on my plane with plenty of time. It was a very low stress morning. Headed to Minneapolis and then on to SLC. Then I saw it. The beautiful majestic Wasatch Mountains. Then downtown. It was very exciting to be home. I was excited to see Brandon and the pups. Then the pilot got on the intercom - "Unfortunately during our flight fog set in over the airport and visibility has dropped to zero. We have enough fuel to hold for 30 mins. If nothing clears by then we will have to go to Boise."

Ugh. I forgot to mention that I was sitting by a 'cute' kid - 7 year old Alec. He was fun to chat with but then started to get antsy and physical. Let's just say I have a cut on my lip to remind me of my time with Alec.

Needless to say we went to Boise. Do you think this trip would have ended in any other way?

We got to Boise and sat on the tarmac for an hour because they had to figure out how to get us inside. The airport wasn't capable of handling the plane we flew in on. The fog still hadn't cleared. So we finally got into the airport. I got some dinner - thanks Quiznos for being open - and thanks Boise airport for having free wireless internet. We waited an hour later and the crew could no longer fly because they were past their hours. We had two options. Bus or fly tomorrow morning. The airline was going to even put us up in a hotel. That was my option. Sure, it would be one more night, but it was better than a bus. I would take an early flight and end up in by 8:30 in the morning. Perfect.

Or not....

Come to find out the first flight they could get us on was 6 PM. I'd miss our Draper temple open house visit. I'd miss Brandon and my Sundance movie. I'd miss the State Democratic Party's Legislative Gala.

The bus was all that was left. There was limited seats and since I was already waiting in line for the flight rebook I had to run down to the bus and barely made it on. There began my nearly six hour bus ride overnight to Salt Lake City. To top things off my phone was dying. I had to shut it off to save battery to call Brandon for a ride when I got home. I put on my Ipod and crunched into my seat - set my head on my coat pressed against the cold window and tried to sleep the trip away.

4 o'clock in the morning. I made it home.

There was Brandon and Lacey to pick me up. Suddenly the trip out, the inaugural mess, and the bus ride home was all in the past. I gave them both a kiss and all was good.