Although I was apprehensive about the Quality Inn Suites room we reserved in College Park, MD, I was excited and eager to reach Washington DC. Comments on tripadvisor.com warned against this hotel – bedbugs, dingy walls, dirty towels, scary hallways – but nothing could stop us from making this historical trip down to the capital city for the weekend. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Around 2 hours into the drive a warning yellow light came on alerting of low tire air pressure. This light had been going on and off in the past week prompting us to dismiss it more quickly than attend to it. “It’s probably a censor problem” Curtis said. Suddenly, as we crossed the state line from Delaware into Maryland we heard a rumbling noise coming from the back of the driver’s side. A flat tire. Curtis thought he could change the tire himself except my MINI doesn’t bring a spare. Instead they come with run flats and apparently we had ran on flat for the maximum mileage permitted. Within minutes an operator of the Maryland Courtesy Patrol eager to assist and offer the best customer service, reached our car ready to remove the tire and plug the air leak. This is a free of charge service offered by the State of Maryland on I-95 (aka The Kennedy Highway) during holiday-travel periods --- yes! It was Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend! Fifteen minutes later, the elderly man screwed the last bolt, packed his tools and bid us a good trip. Curtis offered to buy him lunch but he refused, saying it was against policy to receive anything. What a guy!
We arrived College Park without incident. “Go ahead, inspect it!” Curtis said. I hadn’t stopped talking about the bedbugs I’d read about. Surprisingly, the mattress was almost new and the sheets were a crisp white – I removed the yellow bed cover and discovered a white fluffy comforter – very nice and warm. Sure, tripadvisor.com hadn’t gotten everything wrong…the walls looked dated, the bubble TV (circa 1992), the holes in the sofa bed, the linoleum in the kitchen…after all, this is a hotel that normally charges $80 a night on non-inauguration-holiday-weekend occasions! We decided to rest a bit before heading out to lunch and to the concert at the Lincoln Memorial. We spent about 15 minutes unsuccessfully trying to fix a brownish tint on every channel of the TV --- tripadvisor.com was right on this one too – and then we headed out!
Three blocks away we walked to the College Park Metro – we bought two metro cards with a black and white photo of Obama’s face on it -- commemorating the inauguration – and jumped on the Green Line to downtown.
We walked into the first restaurant we saw –
Gordon Biersch -- Curtis ordered the beer sampler which included the InaugurALE! I’m not much of a beer drinker so I ordered my usual – a margarita, I think!
It was impossible to reach the Lincoln Memorial. A cabby suggested we take the metro to Foggy Bottom on I street and 23rd St – once there, we figured a few hundred people were similarly advised. The Lincoln Memorial is on 23rd near C Street. But there was no way. Hundreds of people had already taken their spot on 23rd and so we were directed to move down to 21st Street and when we reached that, it too was at its capacity, so we continued on to 17th Street – there we were able to turn toward the Mall (from I street past C Street)– as we reached Constitution avenue, it was nearly impossible to see the JumboTrons and so we had to move further back toward the obelisk, the Washington Monument near 15th street. We could see the stage but it was easier to view the gigantic TV screens with Bono singing his heart out! The crowd was thick and family oriented – mixed too but most evidently black and white. The chill was tolerable. When Samuel L Jackson came on, the crowd roared! A middle aged white lady standing near us with her child turned to us and said “it would so make my day if he said ‘I had enough with these motherf’ing Snakes!’”
And so Obama was announced. He reached the mike and the crowd could barely contain itself. Everyone stared at the giant screens, smiling. It was exciting. The sound reached us first before his mouth formed the words on the screen, like a badly dubbed Chinese movie. He spoke for 10 minutes or so it seemed…always pausing giving the crowd a chance to burst into scream in unison. When his speech was over and the claps and screams subsided Beyonce came on stage and sang the last song.
There were no protesters. A few carried signs demanding Bush be jailed. I saw Peta promoters, in their heavy layered sweatshirts passing out fliers to a sea of fur wearing crowds --- then there were the street vendors selling lip balm, or what they called O-balm-ma – and there were earrings: “Obama earrings! show your pride, on both sides”. And buttons and shirts and programs and bookmarks and hats and posters and postcards and pens…you name it!
The crowd left the Mall patiently. Humvees blocked certain streets to guide the crowd in an orderly manner. There were military personnel dressed in camouflage at every corner – some stood alone, others gathered in clusters of five or more, depending on the street and their expectations. Buses were crisscrossed on street corners to block both human and vehicle traffic -- everything was so well organized.
The concert ended right on time – for Curtis anyway, who was eager to get to the nearest bar to see the football games. Tired from the drive and endless walking throughout the city, we decided to find a bar near our hotel in College Park. Next to the Quality Inn there were two places: a diner and Applebee’s. We so hoped the diner had TVs but no luck. We called Thomas (my friend from back in the day in LA) to join us for a drink and the game! During the game he suggested several places for us to go to dinner and visit while in DC – he suggested Ceiba for dinner and Old Ebbitt Grill for drinks – one of the oldest restaurant/bars in DC!
On Monday we slept in, ate well at the diner and decided to drive into the city – to take photos of the monuments from afar. We managed to get around a few places but the traffic was too difficult to navigate --- the foot traffic affected the flow of vehicle traffic and most people didn’t know how to drive through thick crowds bringing the New Yorker out of me – I honked and zipped through the slow drivers with North Carolina or Georgia plates. I took several photos with my IPhone in slow traffic through the sunroof – it was convenient. I stopped once or twice for Curtis to take his equipment out and shoot the perfect photo. We saw the media setting up on the route of the parade; and small gatherings surrounding a woman being interviewed; and the buildings were dressed in the red white and blue flag; and we saw banners that welcomed Mr. President to the job.
For that evening we took Thomas’s suggestions and made reservations at
Ceiba - We drove back to the hotel to rest for a while before driving back to the train station where we parked in anticipation of returning too late to take the hotel shuttle or walk in the dark and the cold those three long blocks that seem longer in 20 degree weather.
Ceiba was buzzing. The bar was full but we managed to get a couple of seats near the corner of the bar. We ordered some drinks while we waited for Dennis Jr., aka Diesel, who was joining us for dinner. Though Dennis Sr. didn’t plan to join us he came into the bar for a quick drink before heading out for a date of his own. Dinner was delicious. I think I ate for three that night. I had the whole crispy red snapper – Curtis went Brazilian with the Feijoada and Diesel chose the rib eye Churrasco! Mmmmm. It was during dessert that we heard a bit of a commotion – a civilized commotion – coming from a few tables back. Groupies of Meet the Press surrounded David Gregory, the newly elected anchor of the prestigious Sunday news show. I pulled out my camera as well and shot a picture as he walked toward us.
The city was throbbing with people and opened restaurants and bars. We headed toward the White House in search of that famous
Old Ebbitt Grill – known as one of the oldest places in the city and for its famously frequented clientele – the who’s who of Washington. I recognized the place. I had visited a few years back with mom and aunt for lunch. We headed directly to the bar. We pealed our layers off, got comfortable, ordered some drinks and enjoyed the scene. Some ladies, in elaborate gowns (maybe too sexy for Washington) appeared to have abandoned their swanky inaugural balls in preference to this bar. The majority of people though, were dressed in street clothes enjoying the night the way we hoped to. And we did. After a couple of adult beverages and Perrier we decided to hit the next bar – a hotel bar maybe. We were told the hotels were infamous for party goers! It was then that I got that sunken feeling. My red scarf was no where to be found and my purse had disappeared with it. My IPhone? Gone. My wallet? Gone. And then it hit me…my car keys! Gone. We asked the waiters, the bartenders. We checked trashcans and I walked around the bar. I warned ladies with their unattended purses and demanded answers “How could this happen?” The manager helped me as best he could – I suppose. Called 911. Curtis canceled AT&T and Diesel checked the men’s bathrooms. I soon began to experience -- just for a moment and quietly -- separation anxiety...my personal things were gone. Then I began to think about the hassle of canceling credit cards, getting a new ID, ordering a new car key and trying to remember what I had in my purse.
The manager said there was a camera directed to the bar but not facing our location. He said the city was working overtime and there were no officers that could come to the restaurant to take my report. After an hour or so of devising different scenarios, feelin g incompetent and realizing how we had been taken – I mean, Diesel on my left (and the name Diesel fits his size) and Curtis on my right and the purse in the middle – How?? Whoever took it was brazen and opportunistic – the manager called me to the phone where an officer awaited my description of the incident.
Deflated and tired of looking at trash cans in the vicinity, we waited patiently for Dennis Sr. to pick us up. Once in the hotel, I got into solution mode, canceled credit cards and contacted MINI roadside assistance who couldn’t do anything but tow the car to the nearest dealership – not what I was hoping to hear. For a moment I thought of foregoing the inauguration but Diesel insisted I needed to keep my focus and understand why I was in DC in the first place. We’re glad he said that.
Eventually by 9am I was able to contact the right dealership who would cut me a new key by the next day. We reserved an additional night in the hotel, called work and headed out to the inauguration.
The scene we experienced the day of the concert at the Lincoln Memorial multiplied. It seemed that all streets were closed to vehicle traffic and everywhere we turned there was a line – a line for those entering the parade route and a line for those holding tickets for the inauguration and lines to pass through metal detectors and a line to simply walk up the blocks. You had to choose between the parade and the inauguration. Those who chose the parade stood in line and at their post in the parade route from early in the morning until 2:30pm when the parade was set to start. We chose the inauguration and without tickets we had to make our way passed the ticket holders and passed those who had made it to the Mall long before us – possibly at dawn. And again, we walked and walked and walked and walked to find a location where we could see the JumboTrons. It was colder that day –and a little windy.
Diesel and Dennis Sr. had gotten to their location much earlier than us. They left at least an hour and a half earlier than we did. After many blocks, passed many crowds, we finally found an area from where we could see at least one giant TV screen. The stage was at the Capitol Building, we were 1.7 miles away at the World War II monument. To offer some perspective, think about being on 59th street and Columbus Circle near Central Park and the stage being on 94th Street and Central Park West --- that’s 34 New York blocks away.
By the time we were in place it was 11:45am. Introductions had already started and emotions were high. Boooos resonated when Bush was introduced, a stark contrast to the cheers that emanated from the crowd at every glimpse, no matter how small, of Obama on the gigantic screen. Finally. We were there. In just a few moments Obama was to be sworn in. I looked around at all the eager faces. I know there were people there who in the past year, never imagined that they’d be standing there. First Joe Biden. Then, the real moment that brought the hundreds of thousands of people from all over the United States to this small 2 mile patch of land: “I, Barrack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear…” Even with Justice Roberts’ hiccup, Obama fulfilled his oath and the crowd went nuts! In our own little spot of grass, 1.7 miles away from the stage, Curtis and I clapped and laughed and woo hoooed! Everyone around us too. Some hugged, like New Years Eve in Times Square.
And so he began: “My fellow citizens…” Despite the mediocre grades certain reporters and historians gave Obama’s inauguration speech, it was evident he moved the people. He rang true, tough, determined and humble. In his collective address -- his constant use of WE -- he seemed to give power to the individual. Although there were a few great lines, one resonated with me – I turned to Curtis and mouthed the words “WOW”:
“To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”
No one complained. No one pushed or rushed. We walked away from The Mall any direction – didn’t matter – just away. Military led the massive crowds strategically. At one point we walked shoulder to shoulder down 19th street. We passed G, H, I streets. And for just a moment you could hear silence. It seems that hundreds of us simultaneously contemplated the moment, the experience we had just had. Hundreds of us walking down 19th Street trying to get anywhere else.
On 19th and K we found a Cosi Restaurant where we stopped to eat and wait for the Dennises. Little did we know that it would be impossible to take the metro back to our hotel. The crowds were jammed into the metro station up the escalator spilling on to the street. Cabs were no easier to catch.
Close to M Street and 17th Street we encountered the Mayflower Hotel – made famous by our elegant ex governor Spitzer aka Client #9. We ordered some drinks at their bar and enjoyed the parade on their flat screen TV.
We arrived back at the hotel in the evening. Tired and ready to call it a night. Out of the blue Maria sent Curtis a text message – something about a call that someone had found my belongings in a dumpster. It turns out that a church, two blocks from the Old Ebbitt Grill, found some of my credit cards and my university ID and called the College’s security office to report the find. Security then called Daysi. Daysi didn’t have Curtis’s number, so she called Evelin, who also didn’t have Curtis’s number so Maria was contacted who had the wrong number for Curtis. So Maria called Gwen who contacted her boyfriend Danny who gave the number to Maria. By this time a little drama ensued. Dumpster? Belongings? Oh no!
The next day we visited the church where most of my credit cards, medical insurance cards and other university cards were found. We walked around the church when suddenly I saw other things I recognized as mine. Curtis collected the papers thrown about: my car insurance card, receipts and a lottery ticket (I checked the lottery ticket and it was a winner!! $3! Yes!).
That afternoon the Dennises took us 40 miles west to MINI of Sterling in Virginia. There it was, my new key! We drove around the Washington Redskins training site and then drove back to College Park to pick up the car.
The drive back was without incident. We encountered 45 minutes or so of heavy traffic – no biggie. As we approached New York City, we opted for the Lincoln Tunnel and drove directly to the 5th Avenue Apple Store. :-)
I returned to work yesterday. Around 3pm I received a phone call: “Were you at the Inauguration this past weekend?” A lawyer from Colorado, on her way to the Inauguration, at around 5am, under a bridge, found in the gutter my wallet with NY State ID and other cards. She said she put it in a padded envelop and mailed it yesterday.
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