Inaugural Balls
Having grown up in the DC-Metro area, I know what its like to be in a crowd on the Mall in Washington. I know what its like to feel trapped in a sea of breath, flesh and movement, all culminating in an experience that will instantaneously cause claustrophobia in anyone.
And none of this will even come close to the amount of people that will be on the Mall for the President Inauguration of Barack Obama.
My heart inclines me to go so bad, but everything else associated with my body asks, “what in the heck are you thinking?” It’s scheduled to be five degrees above freezing that day, traffic has been projected to be so dramatic that a state of emergency has been declared, and the roads in and out of town will be severly limited.
So of course, the wife and I are divided on whether we should attend or not.
Being the black power advocate that I am, she can’t believe that I am so willing and content to watch the inauguration from home. With such a dramatic moment in the world’s history, a moment that most black folks have waited for since our forced arrival in America, she can’t understand why I would rather play the sidelines than be front and center.
And for all of my ability, I can’t make her see that I don’t want my memory of the inauguration to be one of frustration with crowds, and the flu I would undoubtedly catch afterwards with no sick leave from work, or the fact that she would be ready to go in less than an hour from being so cold. She can’t imagine my hesitation to stand somewhere where I can’t see or hear his acceptance speech, or any of the music.
Nope, we aren’t on the same page.
I get her point, and respect her tenacity. On this issue, she has a lot more gumption than I do. But I’d rather spectate the event and the moment somewhere comfortably, free to cry and shout Hallelujah without the tears being forced out by freezing wind, and without the Hallelujah being associated as the beginning of a religious terrorist act. It’s a moment for all of us to enjoy in the way we want our hearts to be warmed.
Whether its in the freezing air or not.
