Often I'm getting asked by my children, "where were you when..." Rather than try and remember, or just making it up - "Uh...I was in a coffee shop when they stormed Normanday..." I thought I'd capture the moment now. January 20th, 2009. I was at a meeting in Ithaca with my boss. We were driving home and stopped at the Short Stop Deli to eat. Reuben, Sobe green tea, chicken noodle soup with really big noodles. Popular place with a big TV playing. We stood at the counter to eat our sandwiches and watch the TV. The VP was sworn in without event. And then Obama. Just before he took his oath a couple of ladies...who were a couple...walked in standing close like couples do. Then a guy with big rings on each finger, long curly hair, a feminine fur coat and army boots. A student calling her family, "Turn on the TV, it's important you see this." As Obama spoke, a 30ish man who probobally doesn't make enough money to pay taxes turned and shouted at me, "he's gonna raise taxes, that's what he's gonna do. My great grandfather was in Normandy as a paratroop. Was his father a paratroop? Did he pay taxes? He's gonna raise our taxes!" Ithaca is a liberal town, and honestly I can't think of a better place to have watched Obama sworn in...right next to the ladies, the guy, the other guy and my boss. Not that there's anything wrong with any of those as Jerry Seinfeld would say. But it just seemed to fit. The Audacity of Hope...that's all I have to say. So, where were you?
1 comment:
I was watching it on my computer and drinking hot chocolate I think.
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