The day began early as thousands of people were streaming down our street at 6 a.m., headed to the Mall for a chance to glimpse, however distant, history in the making.   The stream of Obama fans grew to a peak of 137 passersby a minute just as the temperature dipped to 18 degrees about  eight o'clock.   Our guests began to trickle in for hot chocolate and coffee shortly thereafter and the numbers swelled as friends with tickets gave up on the long lines at the security gates and opted for a fireside seat at our place.

By the time the Chief Justice bungled the oath of office, we had a full house of guests from CO, MA, MS, TX, NM, NJ, NY, TN and nearby VA.  We broke out the  champagne at the conclusion of Rev. Lowery’s benediction and finished off the two gallons of gumbo by one o’clock.  Soon thereafter Sarah Silverman arrived to say hello to Chad, an old high school friend, and assumed celebrity-of-the-day duties, entertaining us with news from the political Hollywood types and posing for pictures.  Our friends with ball tickets left in time for a quick nap before the big night on the town, while others tarried until sundown.

It was a great day for America and a glorious time with many old friends and a healthy batch of new ones.