Well we made it. And not a moment to soon! I was a little bit nervous that morning. I still wasn’t over the rampage that took place at the capitol building, and to be honest it may take a long time.  Early on in my career I spent two years working there on the Senate side. I spent a lot of time in all the buildings that make up the campus. I knew them all along with the tunnels, and many of the special places and hidden nooks. It was a better time on the Hill then. Democrats and Republicans disagreed but they worked together when it mattered. Members of both parties got along and didn’t view each other as the enemy. Staffers had lunch together, played softball for the fun of it and hung out at bars. In many ways it was a better time.

I was worried that there would be some type of violent activity in or around Washington, DC, and at state capitols. Thankfully that didn’t happen. Instead there was a peaceful transfer of power, though for some that may take a while to get over.

I wasn’t at the inauguration, but felt very much a part of it.  And so it was important for me to memorialize the event by capturing the feelings I experienced as I watched it. I was happy, relieved, yet deeply concerned about the incredible challenges facing all of us as we begin to move beyond this very dark time. Now we’ve made a start and I am hopeful for our future.

Stay safe,

Michael