A Bit of Nostalgia

As we all know, today was a very momentous day in our history but it also brought about some interesting emotions for me. Having grown up in Maryland, I spent many a day in Washington DC. I actually attended at least two inaugurations that I can recall - one for Clinton and the other I can't even remember - either George Bush Sr. or Ronald Reagan. From Clinton's inauguration, I remember standing on the mall watching him being sworn in as the 42nd president of the United States.I remember standing along the parade route in the freezing cold, with my mom, watching the outgoing president departing in the helicopter and the incoming president motorcading down the parade route. Washington DC means so much more to me than that though. I also went to college about twenty minutes from the nations capitol and spent my summer and winter breaks working in the city for the Federal Government. Coming from a family whose parents both worked for the federal government, it was inevitable that I would at least see what it was all about. I worked for a few different agencies, but spent the longest amount of time at the FDIC. I was a lowly intern but it wasn't the job so much as it was the experience of working across the street from the White House and the Old Executive Office Building on 17th and E Street. I'd spend my lunch breaks eating in Lafayette Park, watching the various protesters marching for their given cause in front of the White House. I spent once a week playing softball on the grounds of the Washington Monument (which probably isn't even allowed anymore with all the security requirements). I remember seeing the presidential motorcade quite often and the traffic jams that ensued as a result. Sure, I thought all of this was neat at the time, but looking back, it was truly an awesome experience. Jeff and I also spent many a weekend in DC during the school year (and even after we had graduated), enjoying the cherry blossoms, the National Zoo, the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian Museums (and of course a few bars in the area). I have so many memories I couldn't even begin to list them all. I guess the point of all my babbling is that watching the inauguration today on TV made me realize how much more I should have appreciated both the city of Washington DC and what I was witnessing while attending the inaugurations. Granted, the historical significance of today's events are much greater than the inaugurations I attended but the fact that I was able to attend, in my lifetime, not only one but two presidential inaugurations is something I will remember for the rest of my life and an experience I hope to relay to Allison and Daniel when they are old enough to understand.