Anticipation

Everywhere you look in downtown DC, you are reminded of the upcoming inauguration. It’s a huge effort to prepare the city for the onslaught of people who will be crowding in for some glimpse of the festivities next week, or at least to be able to say “I was there.”

I think they must have ordered enough porta-potties to have one for every 100 people. They are everywhere. It’s as though they are winter flowers sprouting up along most every stretch of sidewalk. (MC – Take note!)


Miles of portable chain-link fencing have been rented. It would seem there is an effort to force the hordes into certain preconceived paths. I wouldn’t hold my breath.


When I saw the green “fencing” around much of the East Wing, I was reminded of the efforts at the National Zoo to keep the giraffes from eating the trees. Do they really thing for a minute this flimsy plastic mesh is going to keep people off the grass?


I looked somewhat longingly at the Capitol, as it stood draped in red, white, and blue with thousands of rented plastic chairs neatly set out for the paying guests or other dignitaries. I quickly came to the realization that was the closest I was going to get for quite a while.

I will spend Monday night with friends and then walk toward the tsunami of spectators gathering on the Mall for Obama’s auspicious beginning. I’m fairly sure I’ll never see him in more than a big screen image, but I’m excited about the possibility of being there with all those people as the anticipation of change becomes a reality.