Reflections on Inauguration Day 2021

I barely slept at all on Tuesday night fearing what might happen at the Inauguration Ceremony given the horrific insurrection that had occurred at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Thankfully, the Inauguration was safe and impressive.

The brief ceremony at the Reflecting Pool on Tuesday night remembering the 400,000 lives of our fellow citizens lost to Covid had been fitting and moving.

Kamala Harris was sworn in as our first female Vice President, Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!! One hundred years after women gained the right to vote, we have our first Black, Asian American, female Vice President.

Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was sworn in as our forty-sixth President. . . a good man for incredibly difficult times.

 

The  entire ceremony was beautiful, but all would agree that the standout moment was the recitation of "The Hill We Climb" by twenty-two year old poet Amanda Gorman. (It's moments such as that which make me long for my days in the classroom. There would definitely have been a class or two with my eighth graders based on that poem and the ability to inspire hearts and minds with the power of words and poetry. She was magnificent.)

 Photo tip: As you see, it is possible to capture clear images from your TV with your cell phone. The secret is to line up your phone with the very center of the TV screen.  Fill your phone's screen with the TV image eliminating any area around it. It helps to kneel down to shoot the image straight on; if your knees cannot handle that, pull up a chair and lean forward so your phone is in a straight line with the center of the TV screen.

After the Inauguration, our forty-sixth President and Vice President headed to Arlington National Cemetery to pay respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They were joined there by three of our former Presidents and their wives. Jimmy Carter at age ninety-six was unable to attend the Inauguration, and he who shall be nameless was on his way to Florida.

While at Arlington National Cemetery, Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama filmed a short message which aired last night during "The Celebration of America." They spoke of unity, democracy, and pledged their support to the new President and his administration. For me, their message was comforting and pointed to what we have always expected in the smooth transition of power. 

By the way, did you notice that today's date is palendromic? 1/21/21  (The numbers in the date read the same way back and forward. :-)

Stay safe. Have hope. 

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