Inauguration Day 2013

     With the passing of yet another year, PDub, Maya, and I have maintained old and created new traditions.  For instance, we always eat homemade spaghetti and watch Hocus Pocus on Halloween.  Additionally, no Christmas would be the same without fettuccine (with green noodles) and scratch-off lottery tickets in the stockings.  We added a new tradition this year for New Year's Day.  The family members who are present will share their 20-- bucket list.  For instance, this year Doubles Shark-Whisperer, PDub, and I read off our 2013 bucket lists with hopes that we will be held accountable and give one another ideas on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.  From sky-diving over the Keys to placing wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery, the lists were quite creative.  Yesterday, PDub and I were able to cross one off the list....

Attending the Presidential Inauguration

     No matter if you are black, white, or yellow...democrat, republican, or independent...gun-lover, abortion-hater, or marriage rights activist...If you are merely human (because dogs aren't allowed), you absolutely must add the presidential inauguration to your bucket list.  Yes, we woke up early, crowded on a metro, stood for 10 hours, yearned for warmth, and touched more people than needed, but it was well worth it!  Nothing comes close to being one in a million people standing united to watch your country create history.  United, we the people stood as one, shivering together, cheering together, laughing together, and even crying together.  We viewed the ceremony, swearing in, and speech from the third jumbo-tron, but front row seats were not needed to feel the electricity conducted through the crowd and politicians.

CNN broadcasting

CBS news broadcasting

Plenty of cameras...

C-Span was handing out buttons.  Go O'Bama!

AND we got flags!!

Every building had men like this standing on them...no shady biznesss, my friends.

We, the people,.....

     After the ceremony, we headed to Pennsylvania Ave. where the parade would take place.  After being exposed to high security measures (PDub got the rub down....while I got a mere "good...well done"), we found a spot to stand just in front of the FBI building and right behind the two tallest men.  We considered moving, but it was a great thing that we didn't seeing that the President and the First Lady exited their limo right in front of us.  The Vice President and his wife did the same thing not too long after.  It isn't everyday that you get to the see the President of the United State (not on television).  After watching a bit more of the parade, we headed home where PDub and I glued ourselves to the couch drawing straws on who would let Maya out.  Overall, a LEGENDARY day!  When was the last time you had one??

Unlike the Little Egypt Parade, there were two lines of barricades, a line of cops followed by a line of sailors.  Plus, there wasn't candy....or a beer garden....

The president was preceded by the five divisions of the US Armed Forces.

And these guys :)

Wait for it...

The First Lady exiting the limo....and several agents. 

President O'Bama and the First Lady

They were waving at us.

Wait for it.... 

Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden 

An end to a great day.