Tuesday, January 20, 2009

We watched history



We watched history today at the Civil Rights Museum today. There was a watching party there, that opened at 10am.I got there around 10:15 and they were turning away people at the door. How could this be? I drove all the way down there and I wasn't going to get in? Several media people were walking right in as they were filled to capacity. I saw a group go around to the back, I followed them and walked right in. Most of the time if you act like you should be there, then people leave you alone. We were escorted in the theatre room. I stood in the back of the theatre room and remembered Kelly and her coworker Chris were coming to meet me. I sent her a quick text to just tell them they were with a Polish newspaper, just make up one I said..walk right in. Obviously Chris knows several newspapers in Poland and didn't need to make one up, as he is from there. It worked, they got in. We were the only 'white' people in that room. So that was a different feeling in a way, in a way not, we were all there for the same reason.  Everyone was gracious and clapped politely when President Bush came out, cheered loudly when Aretha Franklin came out and cheered and chanted and even screamed when they saw the Obamas. Also when the Chief of Ceremony told everyone at the Inauguration to rise, well everyone in Memphis rose as well. CNN and ABC were doing live feeds from there and at one point I could see Kelly and I on the screen during the ceremony. Very distant and in the back of the room, but stillcool nonetheless. The ceremony, the speech it all was wonderful to see. I really liked how the speech reached out to everyone, all races, all religions. As we were leaving Kelly and I got interviewed for the local Fox news station, maybe we will be on TV tonight..Now its time to watch the parade..I can't remove my eyes from CNN, I guess I'm not working out today...

1 comment:

rebecca said...

What an awesome day! I watched with the girls. I saw the feed from Memphis but didn't realize you were there! So cool.