inarguation

Amongst the crowd I stood cold neck up as the steady warmth waved through body heat. These moments before the swear-in I did not realize my position. In fact I was one singular self looking to squeeze past this monstrosity of a pack, one person at a time, in hopes of getting closer to the big screen. We did not have tickets so we chose to push and shove and wait until it all got started. I leaned forward to my toes to see the millions that surrounded me. The forty six I arrived on the mall with was now dispersed randomly and I only counted seven familiar faces behind me. There behind me was a countless amount. How it was amazing to see so many faces of color and life. I knew then I became we. We were all waiting, whether it was patiently or impatiently, for that moment that would soon change us.

When the president elect began his walk they cheered and screamed. Soon I found myself doing the same. Though he stumbled (proving to us that he was just as human as we are) in the beginning he finished his swear-in flawlessly. I was sure to record every word of his speech. Obama said exactly what we needed to hear. I realized that “at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.”

And when it was over we realized that it had just begun.

I am pleased to say that I have witnessed history: the kind of history that I can be proud to tell my children and their children about. I will take my pictures, my stories, and these memories with me and hold them to remind me of this moment so that I can share it. Change will come starting now.