Strange Obama-Inaguration Details …

Regardless of political leaning, no one could deny that the last few days — surrounding the presidential inauguration — have been electric. Today feels a bit “business as usual” (as the Dow drops, and Microsoft announces layoffs), but Tuesday and Wednesday felt a little bit like hope.

The inauguration itself was truly one of energy. I don’t recall ever seeing a presidential motorcade drive by to such cheers, and I must say it was really exciting. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been a bit of a skeptic regarding Obama — I find it hard to believe that so much change can happen in a White House that can hardly change the curtains without an RFP and 25 stamps of approval — but I have to admit, the inauguration set things off on a great note. There was truly a feeling of energy and youth swirling through those Washington skies.

Aside from all the regular significance that everyone was feeling, though, I couldn’t help but be embarrassed that I was really fascinated over a few strange details:

  • That Lincoln’s bible made that strange reappearance.
  • That the television commentators kept saying that Obama was the first “non Boomer” president in a long time. But I think he still is in the Boomer category, no? Doesn’t Gen X start around 1966?
  • That the TV people kept bringing up Obama’s iPod.
  • That somewhere, behind the scenes, there was a staff at the White House scrambling (… scrambling, mind you) to unpack the Obamas’ bags, clothes, books, shoes, musical interests, bedding, stuffed animals, Scattergories games, Webkinz, Monopoly pieces, backpacks, socks, coats, scarves, etc. before they returned that afternoon. I would have loved to have seen that unpacking frenzy.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun to watch. Now, I guess, it’s time to get to work.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming …

What detail did you find most fascinating? Were you zeroing in on odd things like I was during the fanfare?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

0 thoughts on “Strange Obama-Inaguration Details …

  1. Well, since you say strange details, I have to admit finding it hilarious that Obama was advised or allowed to wear a (large) white tie with a tuxedo to the balls! (A white tie is reserved for full evening dress, which entails tails, if you see what I mean.) I know he wants to instigate change, but for a youngish man ‘arriving’ at the highest office, it seems to me foolish to risk the appearance of ignorance regarding formal-dress convention. I thought he looked like a kid at the prom. Did anyone else find this cringeworthy?

    I, too, enjoyed the Occasion on Tuesday and was glad work was at a lull so I could soak it up. Quite a moment.

  2. Hi, Rosy! Wow, what a good observation! (And I love the phrase “cringeworthy”!) I did think his tie looked a bit huge, but the color-coding of formal dress hadn’t occurred to me. How knowledgeable of you! I was more focused on what Michelle was wearing to the dances, I guess (and she looked quite lovely, by the way).

  3. I was so surprised to see Dick Cheney in a wheel chair — and all I could think of was ‘Now how on earth could I have missed that?’. I felt better when the announcer said it was a very recent problem that he had.

    I really had a laugh when I mentioned to my ‘better half’ that I wondered how he’d get down the stairs. He made a motion as if he was dumping him down the stair out of the chair — and I broke up. Tom has not said much about Mr. Cheney, but I soon found out that he had absolutely no use for the man. No matter what I think of him, all I’ll think of now is him being dumped down the steps out of the chair!

    The other trivial bit that fascinated me was the flubbing of the oath by Justice Roberts. It was so ‘human’ of him! Seemed like Obama knew what he had said was wrong but he didn’t know what the right words were.

  4. Oh, Helene, those are both good ones! Yes, the flubbing of the line was very “detail noteworthy” — I kept thinking of that the next day, too. Especially the way Obama had that sort of smirk on his face when it was happening. But it was a cool smirk, really. Like he was being forgiving of Justice Roberts while sort of thinking, “This is nerve-wracking, isn’t it?” I sort of liked that moment.

  5. What I found humerous was the report, that after days of people directing Obama where to go, where to sit, and keeping him on que, that finally at days end, dressed in his pajama’s, he came out and said. “Ok, where do I go now?”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

CommentLuv badge