With the historical inauguration of our new US President, Joe Biden and Madam Vice President, Kamala Harris I couldn’t help but reflect on President Obama’s inauguration in 2013. I would’ve loved to attend his inauguration in 2009. At that time I didn’t know much about booking trips. Plus, I was still in the mindset of wanting to go places and travel, but “I have no one to go with.”
Well, things shifted in 2013. I ventured out, stopped depending on my day one friends, and went on a trip with friends from work. The trip was posted on a flyer at the job. It was affordable and I wanted in on the deal. The cost was about $400 per person. Bus fare included. Four of us were in a room.
On this trip, we toured the National Mall before the inauguration. We saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Dr. King’s Memorial.
Dr. King’s Memorial
Inauguration Day
It was extremely cold on Inauguration Day. I was dressed like I was going to the North Pole. Underneath my knee-length winter coat were multiple layers of clothes.
We did a lot of standing while waiting for the inauguration to begin. We were out on the National Mall since 6 am before the sun came up. Out on the spacious lawn, we were huddling together trying to keep warm. Around 9 am the tv screens began showing footage of the First Family. The actual event started around 10 or 11 am. Looking on the tv screens, we saw our President become inaugurated for a second time. While President Barack Obama was sworn in, the entire crowd was cheering, screaming, and waving their flags in unison.
After President Obama became sworn in, we hung around the mall to figure out our next plan. We weren’t provided any maps or itineraries, so we didn’t know where to go. Like many others, we walked the streets to find the parade. However, we finally found the parade after multiple tries. We didn’t see Barack and Michelle though. See the photos below.
Inauguration Parade
It’s always great when you can come into town and link up with family. I contacted my grand aunt who lives in DC. She told me she was out there at the parade too. The phone service was so poor because of all of the people present on their phones. I couldn’t find her in that crowd if I tried.
Our bus group received instructions to meet on the bus at 6 pm to get back to our hotel in Fredericksburg, VA. As I’m walking the streets toward the bus, I passed by two familiar faces. I screamed, “Cousin!” They screamed back, “Cousin! That’s Michelle!” We all hugged and chit chatted for a few seconds. I knew they were coming to the event because they posted on Facebook that they were flying in from Florida. I wish my crew took an airplane or train, but that’s another story. That quick moment the cousins and I spent together was so special. The last time I saw them was in New Orleans for Essence Festival. We’re not really related, but I’ll tell you more about them in a future post.
Overall, the 2013 Inauguration was a historical moment in time that I was able to witness. I hope to tell my children about it one day.
Here’s President Joe Biden’s virtual Inauguration Day parade in case you missed it.