Inauguration Tuesday

Having a holiday on a weekday rocks. While I do not celebrate MLK Day, Columbo Day, or Presidents Day, I at least appreciate these fine men's contribution to my holiday schedule and I do keep in mind that they shaped this wonderful world we live in today.

The inauguration of the 44th President of the United States is today. It's a historic event because 60 years ago, the man that is going to become the new president would have had to sit on the back of the bus, enter businesses through the back door, and go to a separate public school.

The corporate world owns my life right now or I could witness this monumental event. Why would they not give a holiday to everyone today? I mean, wasn't there a holiday when Amelia flew around the world? Or when Gandhi/Mother Teresa spoke? Or when the Pope died/a new one got elected and the world was watching for smoke? Is one 8-hour work day really as important as a new leader of the free world being established? I mean, Philadelphia shut down the whole city because the Phillies won the World Series. Not everyone likes baseball, but the new president effects everyone!

Anyway, I just talked to someone the other day who attended Reagan's inauguration. We had asked her what time it starts on Tuesday and she told the following story:

It must have been in the earlier part of the day. Back when they didn't
have security everywhere me and my girlfriends went and sat on the capital lawn
for Reagan's speech. We were there with backpacks full of beer and
needless to say, I don't remember much. I just remember how I felt it was
weird that I was drinking a beer at 10 a.m. at the nation's capital.
Afterwards, me and all my girlfriends put on our prettiest dances and tried to
get into every ball we could find. Like we belonged there! We didn't end up getting into any balls, but it was fun anyway!

I want to be able to tell a story like that!

Well I hope everything goes well today for the new president and everyone involved. May the party be like Andrew Jackson's which went into the next day and where the alcohol flowed so freely they set it up on the front lawn to get people to get out of the White House the next day! Jackson's was the craziest party so far in the history of the U.S. His inauguration marked the first time a non-elite non-east coaster won the presidency. It was considered a huge step for the common man. Sound familiar?

Barack, party like its 1829.