60 hours on a bus, 10 hours in Washington D.C.

It's 8:20 on Saturday night. 2 1/2 days before the Inauguration of Barack Obama.

I learned of my trip to Washington D.C. only on Tuesday of this week. We leave tomorrow morning at 5:00 a.m.

Despite what I feel like is an over-busy life these days, with my last-minute decision to go on this trip, it's amazing how I've kicked it into high gear to be able to go on mini-shopping sprees because I am hoping to capture the swearing, parade, and people in any way possible--video, audio, or visual. I actually have no idea what *is* actually possible. I have no tickets and will only be in D.C. for a mere 10 hours on Inauguration Day. I don't know if it is possible to be a part of the parade *and* see the swearing in on the jumbo-trons. I have no idea what the crowds will be like and how easy it will be to walk around. But it doesn't matter. I will be there.

I have purchased extra batteries, chargers that don't need electricity so I can keep all my electronics going, and even have an extra cell phone (mine suddenly decided to go dead at random moments yesterday...making me panic, thinking I will be in the middle of a potential 4 million people with no phone!).

I will be riding a charter bus that is caravanning with two other buses...a total of about 150 people. We will have a whirlwind trip with about 60 hours on the road and only about 10 spent in Washington D.C. ...but that is the adventure and the excitement of joining in this new movement.

Sunday, January 18, 2009
4:00AM Arrive at True Lee Baptist Church
5:00 AM Leave Dallas

Monday, January 19, 2009
9AM-10AM Arrive in Philadelphia PA
10AM-2PM Check in Hotel
2PM-5PM Tour of Philadelphia

Tuesday, January 20, 2009
3AM Leave Philadelphia –travel to DC
8AM Arrive at designated Parking Space-DC
Noon Attend Inauguration Ceremony
6PM Leave Washington DC

As I get ready for my trip, I would like to hear what you want to know. What questions would you like to ask people who attend? If you were there, what moments would you like to capture...or if you're going, what are you planning to capture?

Comments (1)

Nora Thomason

Janet, I'm so thrilled about the inauguration (ecstatic!) but won't be able to attend. I live in DC but I have rented out my apartment to some inaugural attendees for a few days (it's very lucrative!) and won't be near the mall during the festivities.

In answer to your request for ideas... well, Barack always talks about "WE" but we always seem to talk about Barack. This is not good. There's 300 million of us and only one of Barack. None of this should be about Barack and nor should we "wait for Barack" to tell us what to do. The human tendency is going to be for everyone to give the messiah baton to Barack (it had been once given to Bush too) and go back home reassured that Barack will fix our nation.

But the true ill of our nation resides in our conflicts in our communities and in our inability, in fact, to even view our communities as true communities. No president can change us - unless we are willing to change what we do and how we do it. It must go way beyond "service" or "charity" and lead us to more substantial changes in the way we structure public policy - and the way we include or exclude one another in our vision of America and its rebuilding.

SO - I would propose for you to consider asking random people questions like this about "change":

"What has Barack Obama inspired you to change about the way you live your life?"

Posted by Nora Thomason | January 18, 2009 10:51 AM

Posted on January 18, 2009 10:51

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