Where were you on inaugaration day?
Where were you when President Barack Hussein Obama was inaugurated?
I was four when Neil Armstrong first set his human foot on the moon. That July day in California was also my youngest brother’s baptism and my parents had invited several people over to celebrate. My dad put the television outside because of the heat and every chair we owned was around it, full of relatives and friends marveling over the thought of capturing the moon.
I was snuggled on my dad’s brother’s lap when Armstrong’s broken voice articulated those famous words, “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
“You’ll remember this day,” my uncle whispered in my ear,” and he gave me a squeeze.
My uncle is no longer with us, but he was right, I do remember that day. And I want my children to remember today, another giant leap for mankind.
The schools here were great — many of the teachers explained the signifigance of the first African American US President. My three-year-old rushed out saying it was a “precious day” and gushed about “President Pa-ja-ma”. Emily’s teacher singled her out in class, reminding her that she was not only British, but also American, and this was her president. She was absolutely bursting with pride when she met me at the school gate. Pride. Read this if you don’t understand the signifigance.
I am also proud, of a country that can pick itself up and start over. Of a country that doesn’t see color. Of a country that hopes and prays for a better future, whatever that may hold.
I was elated to see these sentiments echoed on my Facebook page:
My old boss (English): is blown away by the oratory. What a speech. The world has hope…
A Belgian ex-colleague: is excited about the start of a new era for the US of A!
A British friend: is glad to see the back of “W.”
A German I hardly know: is watching Obama, like the rest of the country, in awe…
We had a quiet afternoon. I made popcorn and sausages and we ate chocolate cake. And every one of my children watched the entire inauguration. Without complaining.
Antonella | 23rd Jan 09
Hi Susanna, Thanks for visiting my modest blog and inviting me to join the group. I will cetainly remember during Mr Obama’s inauguration speech! I was chaufering my daughter and friend to their weekly swimming lesson. But fortunately I was able to listen to it on the radio and the journey took exactly as long as his speech. I was rather surprised that most of my daughter school friends didn’t have a clue who Obama was and they didn’t even talk about him at school. But after all we live in a small God-forgotten village in the middle of North Yorkshire where a lot of people still think that Blair is the UK PM! Have a nice day. Ciao.
Thatgirl39 | 22nd Jan 09
I think it was an amazing day and was really caught up in the moment and emotion of it all. I know the real test will be how good a job he can do but if you can’t have hope then what is there? As general opinion seems to say, he’s bound to be better than Bush and time will tell how much better – I just hope he gets a fair crack at it. I was talking to Small Child about it and she sat on my lap to watch his first speech, expressed a lot of interest in his two daughters but still thinks he’s called President Caramack!
Susanna (A Modern Mother) | 21st Jan 09
Thanks for all the comments.
Regarding the hoopla around “can Obama do it, we are expecting too much…”
Bush didn’t exactly leave big boots to fill, anything has to be better than the past eight years (I hope).
Audrey | 21st Jan 09
I took my kids home early so they could watch it with me. I thought it was incredibly moving and cried my way through the whole thing. I also stayed up and watched all the coverage I could find on it while drinking champagne. It was an amazing speech.
The days the astronuats landed on the moon I fell out the first floor window at my grandparent’s house and landed in a flower box one story below unhurt. My parents remember THAT when people talk about the moon landing.
Nappy valley girl | 21st Jan 09
I watched it live on TV – one of the advantages of working at home! I watched it more out of interest than anything else, but found myself quite overcome by the occasion, his speech and the faces of the people in that tremendous crowd. Feels like the first really good thing to happen on the world stage in years.
SingleParentDad | 20th Jan 09
I didn’t take it in. I’ve been busied with other stuff.
While it is an immense first, and will go down in history, I’m not all that bothered. Symbolism is one thing, and don’t get me wrong, Obama getting the top job, is absolutely huge, but to me, the overiding importance, is if he can do the job, well, I really couldn’t care less about his heritage. I just want the politicians to get on with their jobs, and I hope this guy is as wonderful as his image has been.
Emily | 20th Jan 09
I am sick with Lupus so I slept through it all. Here’s hoping President Obana is kind to the sick and poor!
Average Jane | 20th Jan 09
People in my office clustered around every TV in the building. I was up on the 4th floor with a group of my co-workers.
The company even had the inauguration on the big screen in our theater, but I was already comfortable where I was by the time I got the e-mail announcement.
Laura | 20th Jan 09
I tried to watch it on TV but kept hearing a whiney voice saying ‘me watch wrong trousers’ so I Sky +’ed it for later! We’ll just have to pretend it’s in realtime!
Liz@VioletPosy | 20th Jan 09
We all sat on the sofa and watched it live on BBC1. I’m so proud and I’m not even American! It was a great speech and a great new beginning.
Tawny | 20th Jan 09
I listened to it online and I was blown away. I thought his speech was excellent and the Benediction by Joseph Lowery was so powerful too.