There are two million stories like Mrs. Chilis — think of that…
With the exception of a couple of prima donnas who got on our subway car on the way in – I don’t think they liked being so close to strangers – we didn’t encounter a SINGLE unpleasant person. Everyone was smiling. Everyone was making room for everyone else. No one shoved. No one raised a voice – or a hand – to another. Everyone was helpful and considerate and kind – to complete strangers.
Case in point; we had neglected – despite O’Mama’s exhortations – to purchase chemical hand and toe warmers. Beanie’s little feet were starting to hurt because they were so cold (keep in mind that we’d arrived at our section FOUR HOURS ahead of the start time for the festivities, with nothing to do but stand around in about 20 degrees). I sent Mr. Chili off to see if he could find a vendor to purchase some of the little heat packs, but while he was gone, the man in front of us overheard me talking to Bean about how to keep her toes moving. He reached into his pocket and gave us two packages of the warmers – one for Bean and one for Punkin’ Pie. He said they were “extras,” but I’m not sure I believe him. THAT’S the kind of thing I’m talking about.
You want another story? Okay – I’ve got ‘em. Reverend Lowrey had just finished his benediction, all through which the group we were in was “yes”-ing and “amen”-ing. When it was all over, after a long and loud cheer, everyone in our immediate area started spontaneously hugging one another. My children were scooped into the arms of smiling black grandmothers and excited Asian students and whooping white business people. I’d been holding back tears for the whole morning, but when a black woman turned and drew me in to her – and held me a little longer because she could feel me trying not to sob – I was done for. She squeezed me a little tighter, then said, so only I could here, “It’s all right, Baby Girl; this is for ALL of us,” she said.
Yes. It is for ALL of us.
3 Responses
I’m going to be telling this story for a while now.
Truly – there aren’t adequate words for the energy I experienced at the inauguration. It was cold, it was early and crowded and uncomfortable, but if I had the choice of whether to do it all again, I’d don my cold-weather gear and head right back out. Being among that many people, all who were joyous and optimistic and full of compassion and kindness for one another was worth far more than we had to endure to be there.
That’s really cool. I’ve been in a great mood for the past three days, and very kind to everyone I meet. I’m singing in my car — had on Etta Jones’ “At Last” yesterday and Sting’s “Brand New Day” today, inspired by the inaugural balls. Gotta put together an inaugural CD, I guess.
It’s a good change from the angry protest rock songs I used to drive around singing. ;^)
Thanks for sharing this! As a priviledged white Canadian I can only watch this all and try to understand. It was amazing to watch the inaugaration on CNN with millions of facebook status updates live from all around the world, there were millions of people all over the world, watching the same thing at the same time, with hope and optimism. That was amazing, even if I’m personally a bit skeptical of what Obama himself can do, millions of people hoping together had to have some sort of butterfly effect for the goodness of the world, somehow.