Obama + Orchestra = Best Night Ever

i had titled this entry "a night of BO and the LSO" when i registered Obama's initials for the first time. i bet he had a rough third grade. like my classmate from about the same age, Ashley Sylvia Solomon. ashley, if you're out there, i'm sorry about that. i'm sure the boys are too. well, maybe.

but anyway, i wanted to give a snapshot of my unique rendition of the much-anticipated 20th of january. i ended up streaming the ceremony from my laptop in my room, which was actually really cool. i turned off the lights and sat there, just listening to him. the african american studies major in me (thanks, prof. eudell) certainly has a significant number of doubts about the coming years, but i'm also damn excited. and hopeful, and so astounded that he did it. just think, we were all sitting on that hill last may watching him speak, saying "only a miracle will get him nominated"... it was a really spiritual thing, sitting, just me and obama's voice, so very far away from it all but still hearing people cheering upstairs in their british accents.

and soon thereafter i took off on the tube for barbican hall, home of the world-renowned london symphony orchestra. they just so happened to be playing latin-american composers that night, who just so happened to be my three all-time favorites. on inauguration night. i also managed to get a seat in the very front of the hall, right in front of the concertmaster and conductor, both of whom glanced down at different points and smiled, probably because they could feel me staring at them all up in their business. because the front row, mind you, is basically on the stage (and very much under the lights) in this place. but it didn't bother me. so after an afternoon of just me and obama, i had a night of just me and the LSO. whew. before the encore, the soloist of a ginastera piece made an announcement about how honored he is to play with the LSO, and how powerful it is to be playing right after such a momentous occasion in the USA. and, lo and behold, the entire hall of however many hundreds of quite not-american people, started cheering "obama! obama!" and then the LSO played a thunderously crazy and beautiful piece by Rivueltas. that is my kind of celebration right there. i may or may not have been in tears.

For everyone in middletown, say hello to Wes for me. it's really a weird feeling, now that you're back, being able to picture you together there. i've grown quite a liking for the place, i must admit...

anyway, enough from me. happy inauguration, and beginning of semester. i miss you.