Pietisten

At President Obama’s Inauguration

by Beth Fahey

This whole experience has been incredible!! We are so lucky to have been able to be a part of it. People around the world have been with our country again feeling hopeful. The number of people here and the energy is amazing. So, hi to all, I’m having a great time! Peace.

Thinking about all of you at home with us just warms my heart. Cell phone service is very iffy in DC this week, so e-mail works better. I’ve received some messages 12 hours or a day later and then can’t retrieve them. Cell phone towers are just overloaded.

[I] just got back from seeing Barack Obama and Joe Biden take their oaths of office. How exciting! It was truly amazing to see how many people were there. Looking back, there were people as far as I could see. It was cold, but everyone was so thrilled to be there spirits were great. We were so fortunate to have this opportunity.

We left Bethesda before 6 a.m. Even then the Metro was quite crowded, but moving. Got down by the mall at 7 a.m. and had breakfast before getting into the long line to get in. All went quite smoothly; even found bathrooms easily when we needed them. Arrived back in Bethesda about 3 p.m., tired and hungry but oh so happy.

I thought Rev. Lowery’s prayer really represented the sentiments of the people present—inclusion and hope. The whole city was infused with that type of optimism and it felt like he was speaking to all of us in the moment. A very fitting end to the program at the mall.

We were so lucky to be there and our travels, including getting to the inauguration went just like clockwork. Peace, Beth.