10 Thoughts on the Inauguration
Yesterday marked one week of having our new POTUS and VP and I’m living for President Biden and Vice President Harris’s lunch buddy post on Instagram. It’s making me want a lunch buddy until I realize I already have one — actually three. With week one of the Biden Harris administration going well (Biden signed how many executive orders on day one?! 17 -- He signed 17) I still enjoy looking back on the I still enjoy looking back on the inauguration in amazement, excited that we did it ya’ll! People are still going on about Bernie’s mittens and Amanda Gorman skyrocketing fame passed Lady Gaga and the Obamas! Here are my takeaways from this historic inauguration.
1. George Bush’s Scarf: When George and Laura Bush’s entrance to the Rotunda was met with a gust of wind that sent George’s scarf flying off his neck and him awkwardly trying to reel his winter accessory back to his side. No one ever looks good being caught off guard when a gust of wind creates a fashion malfunction. It’s just funny that it happened to the former president who at the previous inauguration wrestled with his poncho.
2. The First Granddaughters: Look at Biden’s granddaughters looking like a Neapolitan treat! Also can we recognize that if it weren’t for these young ladies, who encouraged their grandpa to run for president, we wouldn’t have the Biden Harris administration! The influence of women! Take note -- we know a thing of two about changing the world!
3. Pence: Anyone still laughing that Pence attended Biden’s inauguration instead of Trump’s farewell address? As he should! The peaceful transfer of power is so important to upholding our democracy! But if you need a little chuckle, just repeat in your mind (and add imagery if necessary) of Pence notifying Trump that he’ll be hanging with Biden instead.
4. Eugene Goodman’s Promotion: On January 6th, I watched a black police officer face a mob of Trump supporters, many of whom were white supremacists and waved Confederate flags, who made their way through the Capitol. Then a week after the insurrection, Goodman would be escorting Vice President Harris, the second gentleman, Dr. Biden, President Biden and Senator Klobachar. He was promoted for his act of bravery because not only did he face the mob of insurrectionists, but he strategically lured them away from the Senate Chambers. Watch former NYPD detective, Kirk Burkhalter examine the footage of Goodman and the mob here. So we can say of Goodman -- a black man saved democracy.
5. Pal Around: I had a good laugh when news correspondents said how they love watching political leaders, former and present, pal around because the cameras happen to catch Justice Amy Coney Barrett sitting in her lonesome. Awkward! Even Pence had people to pal around with!
6. Amanda Gorman: her words were magic and her hands, a poet’s hands, moved with the power of her words! We were all blown away by Amanda Gorman’s poem, The Hill We Climb. So much so that more than 3 million of us (me included) followed America’s poet on Instagram! But let me take a second to gush about the way she wore that red padded headband! (This magazine does focus on fashion after all!) As I watched and listened to her speak, I was also trying to figure out how to wear my padded headband like Amanda Gorman. With my thin Asian curls, sadly, it ain’t possible. A queen of words and a queen of style. We artsy fartsy types better up our fashion game (as well as our art cause this 22 year old poet shared her art at the inauguration -- cue the creative panic)! Applauding everything that Amanda Gorman is!
7. JLo’s Performance: What a great performer and what a fabulous all white Chanel outfit! Btw her look was made up of Chanel pieces from various past collections and from a fashion sustainability standpoint that’s pretty dope. She symbolized equality with her white outfit giving a nod to the suffragettes. She spoke to America in Spanish (I cheer whenever she does that)! But oh, that song, are we still acknowledging “This Land is Your Land” as an appropriate patriotic song? I felt uneasy as I thought about our Native brothers and sisters. And sure enough Allie Young had some words of wisdom that I support. We still have work to do in acknowledging Native Americans and to stop erasing them and their history (or thinking of them as an afterthought)!
8. Gaga’ Performance: That lady is 5’ 2” and has an incredibly powerful voice! I turned to Jordan who was standing next to me. He was already crying. It’s a thing he does when he hears a good rendition of the Anthem. I said to him, “I haven’t put my hand over my heart in a long time.” It almost felt odd to do so. Previously I would stand, and bow my head instead of having my hand over my heart. When Gaga’s performance ended the emotions were put away and we snapped back to being critics, thoroughly impressed that this was the first celebrity National Anthem rendition that was well performed and unique without being horribly dramatized.
9. Klobuchar the Cheerleader: You guys, I just love Senator Amy Klobachar! My heart was warmed knowing that she was a part of this day. Also, her enthusiasm every time she said, “the first Black woman, the first Asian woman, and the first woman to become Vice President of the United States of America” is just wonderful! Vibes we’ll be feeling for a damn long time!
10. The VP Trips: When Kamala Harris was descending the stairs on her way to the Rotunda entrance, she tripped a little on the last steps, made a face, but caught herself and then gave a thumbs up with a beaming smile to I assume a guard who must have seen the trip. Girl do we know the difficulty of heels! That Kamala so wonderfully acknowledged the trip and smiled about it just makes her even more relatable and it made me feel all sorts of proud that she’s our VP!
What moments from the Inauguration still have you reeling in excitement?
