SUNDAY IN WASHINGTON....THE EXCITEMENT BUILDS

Sunday January 18, 2009 4:30 pm

So....we're blogging for the first time to bring you our thoughts, observations and sights and goings on in Washington during many inauguration events. Forgive us in advance for ignoring any protocols......we'll catch up soon. It's an exciting time and everyone is pumped and smiling everywhere you go. We'd love to have you share in our sense of adventure and excitement so stay tuned....So we've left the -15 degree weather of mid-Michigan to the balmy 20 degree temperatures here in the nation's capital.

Today's highlights-- SUNDAY JANUARY 18m 2009 --- (and it is not even 5pm):

Inspiring history lesson and sermon by the lone surviving March on Washington speaker, civil rights leader and GA Congressman John Lewis at Shiloh Baptist Church pastored by The Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith; (Check out photos if we can figure out how to add more)

The HBO -That One! Concert just ended and the 500,000 spectators are milling around basking in the sights and sounds of dozens of America's biggest entertainers.....

Brunch at Art Smith's (Oprah's former chef's new restaurant at The Liaison Hotel) new Art and Soul Restaurant where we other diners were Oprah's hairdresser Andre and friends, exiting and getting into a limo as we entered music producer Babyface Edmonds and lady friend (who from the back looked just like Tracey Edmonds!) and dozens of celebrities and politicos ID'd by secret service and FBI escorts hovering near the tables. Chicken and waffles....delish!

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Attended church service at the historic Shiloh Baptist Church 9th and P Streets NW which was founded in 1863 by 21 former slaves. These slaves left Fredericksburg, VA under the protection of the Union Army. After settling in DC and meeting in various homes, they organized a Sunday School in a small building on L Street between 16th and 17th Strets NW. This grew into one of the most well regarded religious institutions in Washington. It's been at the forefront of social, political, and educational advancement for all people. Congressman Lewis is from Georgia and was the youngest of MLK, Jr's protegees and is the last surviving speaker among the 10 civil rights speakers at the 1963 March on Washington with MLK, Jr. His sermon detailed the civil rights struggle and his role in it at various junctures. He detailed how so many ancestors and historical figures had put their lives on the line and taken a stand to enable this historic moment.

JOHN LEWIS' SERMON QUOTES AND TAKEAWAYS:

"Sometimes you have to turn things upside down to get them right side up."

"Do justice, have mercy and walk humbly.."

"Find a way to get in the way and turn things upside down..." [Be a change agent]

"No one could have arranged the calendar the way history has turned out...August 28, 19955, Emmett Till was lynched.... It was on August 28, 1963 that Washington and the nation witnessed The March of Washington [where John Lewis spoke, along with Martin Luther King, Jr. and 8 others]; On August 28, 2008, Barack Obama accepted the Democratic's nomination to be President of the United States.....Only God and a higher power could have ordained these historical events.....

Reflecting on the impending inauguration and swearing in, Congressman Lewis mused :

....." it may not be the promised land that Martin talked about during his speech at the March on Washington, but it is major down payment on Martin's dream.....the dream is too right, too necessary and too noble to die.

We were moved to tears.....remembering our grandparents, and my father who died this summer and my mother in law who died 2 years ago who could not be here to witness these events......tears of joy and appreciation for the thousands of people of all races who fought for civil rights and legal rights for African Americans to be recognized, treated and acknowledged as whole beings, worthy of equal treatment and equal access and equal rights under the law.....tears of joy hearing the beautiful voices of the Shiloh Baptist Church choir......voices of angels......What an especially poignant history lesson, spiritual reflections and joyous celebration of our ancestors past contributions ...................

If you haven't been to a Baptist Church before, this one is a must if you are ever in Washinton. They started precisely at 10:55am...the choir's range and repertoire was broad and ever appropriate---from Negro spirituals to traditional hymns to rousing gospel foot stomping, hand clapping renditions.....finally "Order My Steps".....Congressman Lewis' favorite song......Absolutely phenomenal musical arrangements and delivery....The men choir members were in Black Suits and the women donned Black dresses and each wore a strand of pearls in honor of the future First Lady Michelle Obama. The list of dignitaries, members of Congress and their families, Historical Black College and University Presidents and their families, Washington local government and agency and education officials who were recognized and introduced and visitors from as far as Nigeria, London, California and points in between, was long and impressive.

Thank you to my wonderful friend and Washington lawyer Juliette Pryor, who invited us to attend last week telling us that Congressman Lewis was the speaker. The service was rousing, the 200+ member choir under the leadership of Maestro Thomas Tyler brought us to tears on too many occasions....A shout out to my home girl from Cincinnati, Tonya McMillan Schmoke, who recognized me in the foyer of Shiloh Baptist Church when we hadn't seen each other since graduation from Spelman in the early 80's.....Good to see you and let' s stay in touch.

TONIGHT'S AGENDA:

HBO Party at the Newseum-----the concert was fabulous and now the party to end all parties....We picked up our VIP tickets today and will don our gala attire to party with the stars and get a preview of one of the best locations to watch the inaugural parade......Terraces are open to the press only for security reasons but we'll scope out the best parade viewing sites for those who already have tickets for Tuesday......If you don't, gotta find another spot, as it's sold out for Tuesday parade viewing. (Try Shiloh Baptist Church where German National TV is doing a live feed and the church is hosting a viewing party!)

TOMORROW'S AGENDA:

Pick up inauguration tickets

Brunch with Washington area friends

Design travel gameplan for Tuesday morning's route to the Capitol area

Prepare gameplan for travel from inauguration to Willard Hotel for parade viewing brunch sponsored by the New York State Society

Make round of cocktail parties at law firms and consulting firms run by friends

Prepare for 2nd gala event at JW Marriott hotel and scout out transportation plan in light of all street and bridge closings..

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What a day! What a day! The excitement builds with every moment....Let's take you back to how we got here....next time......OK, not that far back....