And here we go......

Tonight, I'm watching the crowds in Washington D.C. as they celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

It's 20 degrees on the Mall, and these people, most of whom won't get to watch the parade or the ceremonies in person, are determined to have some part in the process. It's like the people who go to American football games and set up "Tailgate Parties" in the parking lot. They can't afford tickets, they will watch the game on portable TVs, but they are there.

I can't think of the Welsh singer/comedian who used to use "At least I was there" as a catchphrase, but it works. Hundreds of people across the United States, and, indeed, around the world, are going to be up for hours watching the celebrations tonight and tomorrow. From miles away, they will be there. It's a spiritual gathering, in some sense.

My son, who is in Japan, actually got the day off from work to watch the Inauguration. This is a major thing if you consider the reluctance with which people in Japan ask for time off and the even greater reluctance with which employers give people time off.

So here in Paramount California, where my wife and I are taking care of my mother, we who almost never rise much before 10:00 will be up around 07:00, watching the television and, in that same spiritual sense, being there.

THE PAYOFF:
As it turned out, we all watched the ceremony together. Ian connected with us via Skype, and we go to share the day as a family. Technology is not ALL bad. IT gave us an extremely good day.