Don't Worry If Words Fail

I have decided to not try too hard to find the right words for today. Sometimes words fail you for a good reason. So much excitement and anticipation have been behind the build-up to today's Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. So much hope and expectation has been placed on his shoulders. So much grief has seemed worthwhile as a result of his rise to this point. I discovered two days ago that sometimes the onomatopoeic grunts can be the best descriptors, the 'oooh', 'aaah', 'wow', 'fhoouf', can say more that splendifereous phrases.

We will follow as closely as we can today's events (see schedule).

The ordinary is always very close to the extraordinary. While all await the realisation of many dreams, there are many who may have a nightmare beforehand. I see the television cameras showing long lines at train stations, and confused people trying to find out where to go to see the events. I see people with the names of their ancestors and many with children in their arms. The weather is really a backdrop and the bitter cold of this morning, around 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 7 Centigrade).

My first born daughter is already on the Metro en route with her mother to the Mall, and is very excited too. She's done the most so far to be at event. The congestion in the system is already incredible.

The security processes are supposedly very time consuming.

We wait to see if our ball tickets and arrangements arrive; I have a feeling that they will be lost in the mail.

Today is another first step, and it will have of course its share of first words, most notably those in the Inauguration speech. As parents know very well, from those first words and first steps nothing is ever the same again. You may wish to go back to the time before those first important events, but like everything, it can never happen.

As I write, the presidential parties are headed to St. John's Episcopal Church, opposite the White House, called the 'church of presidents'; the Obamas are just about to head to the service from Blair House. It should have started at 8.30am, but it is already 8.33. The day will roll on.