The Trip Home

There is one more story in this journey that I think you will enjoy.  Tim and I left New York this morning for the flight to San Francisco.  Going through security I had taken my liquids and put them in the required plastic bag, computer out, shoes off, etc.  When my small bag came through the agent asked me if she could look through it.  She opened the bag reached in a pulled out my bottle of Barack Obama hot sauce.  Our eyes met in a mixture of sadness and panic.  She was clearly upset about the idea of the precious bottle meeting an ignoble end.  I told her not to worry, but she should see if she could keep it by telling her boss that I gave it to her.  She said she would lose her job if she did that.  Tim suggested putting the bottle up on the x-ray machine with a sign citing it as an example of things you cannot bring onto the plane.  We went over to put our shoes back on and she came running up and told me that they could put it through a special scan and if it was OK I could take it.  It passed and she handed it to me and the security guards all cheered!  It is sitting safely on the stove in Sonoma ready to spice up our lives now that the excitement is over...........

Finally. The Parade

Yes, we did go to the Parade.  In a way.  We had a bus that took us directly from the Swearing In to the Parade.  We had great seats right next to Obama's reviewing stand.  However.  We sat there and sat there and no parade.  It was getting later and later and colder and colder and no parade.  So we tried to leave but were trapped in an area that prevented us from crossing the street to get out.  As we stood there hoping against hope that the Secret Service would let people out and the crowd of people wishing to leave was getting larger and larger.........Suddenly......there were Barack and Michelle walking down the street!  That was a surprise, let me tell you.  We were then released and headed back to change into Ball attire.

The Western States Ball

The big party ended with 11 celebrations which are billed as "balls."  I am not sure if you can have a ball for 11,000 people, but we bravely went to see what it was all about.  Tim got into black tie and fortified himself with two cocktails at once.   The big thrill about the balls is that Barack and Michelle show up and dance.  I did wear the brown outfit and it was certainly a stand out.  Most women were in real long strapless numbers with high heels and the whole works.  We didn't stay that long.  It was just unbelievably bizarre.  Kind of like the prom on steroids and the Convention Center could certainly have doubled as the gym.  So, we did it.  

I will send a few follow up blogs with details and some more photos.....but, for now......Obama is in Charge.  On with the show!    

More about the big day

We had the good fortune to sit in front of Halle Berry.  She was the most lovely and charming person you could hope to meet and was so gracious to all of the hundreds of fans who came up to have their picture taken with her.  Here she is chatting on the phone with Casey Mott - I kid you not. 

We also were stunned looking back at the mall and seeing all of the people - maybe millions of people there to cheer on our new President.  It was really beautiful and quite a sight.  They even climbed up on the statues. 

Tonight, the Western States Ball.  And the brown thing! 

Yes, we did.

We were up at 5 am, waited in lines, rode on buses, pushed through crowds, went through 2 sets of hand warmers, lived on power bars.  And what a small price to pay to bear witness to this incredible event.  We were there for all of our friends and it was a wonderful experience.  One picture, 1000 words.

Delicious

We went to a benefit dinner last night at the Phillips Collection and Alice Waters was there cooking  for us.  Even Martha Stewart was there.........Off to the Swearing In........

Day of Service

Tent in stadium


Lines of baggers

We ventured out to RFK Stadium today to help make care packages for the troops in Afganistan and Iraq.  They had assembly lines and you took your bag and went down the line with it open and people at each station filled it with their item.  At the end they were sealed and you went around and got in line again.  It was a riot, everyone was dancing and partying on, a wonderful sight.  Someone even brought their dog.   It made you realize what people can do if they get together and decide to do it.  There was also an area for writing letters to the troops.  And we actually took the metro home - picture of me to prove it.