We are one in change. Today was amazing.

[demgurl]

I woke up early this morning and set out to line up to get past security for the inauguration. As I stood in line I watched so many people lining up just to get into the inauguration. Everyone seemed happy and none seemed perturbed at the long winding lines. (It took me an hour and a half to get to the security gate!)

While sitting in my seat everyone was friendly and filled with hope. We all talked, there were no strangers. But the thing that struck me was the sameness. I am not sure what bonded all of us. Maybe it is hope. Perhaps a political party. It could have been Obama or maybe even Bush. The thing that struck me was that there were so many celebrities there. Each one had to stand in line just as I had. They all withstood the cold. They sat with everyone else. They talked with everyone else. They were there for the same thing as everyone else. There were no barriers. Everyone one of us stood as one. And at the end, when Obama was sworn in, we all hugged each other, shook each other's hands and smiled.

This was a feeling of oneness I have never experienced. Today we came together and now the healing can begin. Today was change.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. In thirty-five years in DC,

I've never seen a crowd like that. Not just the numbers, but the demeanor. The happiness, the brother- and sisterhood, the sense of community, the absolute joy.

I would not be surprised to learn that there was little or no crime in the District during this event. That happened during the Fourth of July show down on the Mall on the Bicentennial in 1976. No crime in DC.

[demgurl]

2. It was truly just a wonderful time.

Glad to see it was not just in my area.

I, too, would like to see the crime stats for the day.