We recently ended a political era of “leadership” that was marked with stupidity, arrogance and shame. I think many breathed a sigh of relief when the one known as #45 left office. I’m not even going to mention his name. Yall know who I’m talking about. We all know how he acted a fool and showed out all over social media and TV for the past four years. He was without doubt a catalyst for a movement that unveiled some of the racial hatred that many have long tried to pretend doesn’t exist. I’m so glad we showed up to the polls and made him go sit down somewhere. Of course he didn’t go quietly, he made all types of claims that he was cheated out of his victory and filed multiple lawsuits. Fortunately for us he was unsuccessful in those endeavors.
On January 20, 2021, the inauguration of President Joe Biden took place in Washington DC. History was made when his running mate, Kamala Harris, became the first woman of color to be elected to serve as Vice President. I actually did not watch the inquartation, but I did catch bits and pieces on social media and TV. The excitement of it all reminded me of how excited and quite honestly shocked I initially was when Barack Obama was elected President in 2008. I never thought I would see a Black President in my lifetime. I did watch that inauguration on TV and felt the emotion of what this all meant for our country. I vowed that if he was elected for a 2nd term I would be there among the crowd cheering him and Michelle on. So in 2012, when he was elected for a 2nd term, I planned to keep good on that promise to myself.
Yall know I love to travel and I love the DMV area so I was excited to make a trip to DC. Like most people I have an account on Facebook and during this time there were various people and organizations advertising for inauguration trips. Most of them bus trips. I am typically not a fan of such trips, I tend to think them of them as “Granny Trips”, because I know its a great way that older women use to travel with their friends. I’m sure younger people probably do those trips but I always initially think of older women. However, I thought oh well might be fun and an easy way to make the trip without having to do a lot of planning on my own.
I researched a couple of different trips. I narrowed it down to two, both of which were being organized by Black women, so I was happy to support a black business. Both were offered for the same number of days, but one offered a more intensive itinerary and was a little less expensive. So I signed up. I later became a victim to the old saying “you get what you pay for”. Let me just say several things listed on the itinerary did not happen. The shenanigans that ensued would make an interesting movie plot. I started to get leery when I attended an orientation and the information provided wasn’t very clear. I had already paid so I thought oh well, it’s a bus trip how bad can it be? I later found out that two of my former TSU alumni was going to be on the trip and that was really the only saving grace of this trip for me.
I am going to spare yall all the tawdry details of the fiasco, but I will give yall a few of the highlights. Ok, so this was a bus trip right, so I believe there were three charter buses full of us heading to this historic event (the amount of people will become relevant later). So first off, the bus doesn’t leave on time and I’m talking late-late yall. So one of the rest stops was cut out of the trip. When we finally get to the first stop, I’m hot, wringing with sweat, probably musty and certainly uncomfortable. I did have a pleasant seat companion and had some nice conversation but let’s just say that I was not pleased with how this trip started out. So we get to the rest stop and like I said it’s three bus loads of people. They rush us in and out the rest stop, so if you wanted to “freshen up” that was out. So I’m still hot and sweaty. However, even though we were rushed, its three bus loads of people so the stop still took an ample amount of time. Ok Whateva, back on the bus we go. Well you know at some point you have to stop and eat right? So we eventually stop at the Golden Corral, which is a buffet chain, known for their endless buffet. I like to eat so an all you can eat buffet is always alright with me….but, let me tell yall what happened. So we show up to the Golden Corral with three busloads of people, and later come to find out there was no preparation or call ahead to alert them that this large group of people was coming. So of course they could hardly accommodate all these people in terms of space or food. It was utter chaos. So we basically ate in shifts and once again were rushed and not really able to enjoy the meal or partake in the “endless buffet’. I like to eat yall, so when you mess with my food, I am not pleased. But I ate something, so Whateva, back to the bus we go.
Now let me tell you what happened next. We get to the hotel and of course there are issues there in terms of the reservations, etc. So they ended up dropping some of us off at one hotel and then others elsewhere. It takes forever to get to my room. The hotel is not the best but its a well known chain. I see a few shady characters in the lobby and hallway, but hey I can handle myself, so again I’m like Whateva, let me go lay down cause this trip is getting on my nerves. So I get settled in, finally take a shower, and get in the bed. I’m just glad not to be on that bus. Well, shortly thereafter there is a lot of commotion. I hear a lot of talking in the hallway, phone is ringing, people banging on the door. I’m like what is going on now? Next I am being told that we have to vacate the hotel. Guess what yall? We are told that this is a hot spot for prostitution and there are pimps and their “girls” loitering on the premises. Apparently one of the members of our group was propositioned for a paid sexual encounter, which made her extremely uncomfortable and feel unsafe. Those “in charge” of this trip deemed that it was in our best interest to vacate. So we get relocated to another hotel at the wee hours of the morning. I barely slept.
So it’s Inauguration Day, I’m excited. Of course we get there late and I’m talking late-late yall. The streets are blocked off for the event, so a big bus can only take us so far. In our itinerary we were instructed to bring a portable fold up chair to have somewhere to sit. Even gave instructions in the welcome packet on where to get said seat. So I hop off the bus with my lil chair, not knowing not only were we late but we would have to walk for miles to get to the location. So let’s just say when I got there, feet was hurting, arm/back tired from carrying this lil chair and I’m a little miffed, but trying to remain positive because this is an historic event. So we finally get there, of course we are so far back in the crowd I can’t see much and I’m short too so all I really saw was the back of other people’s head for the majority of the time. Also it’s way to crowded to use my lil chair. When we get there Beyoncé is ending her song. Again, we’re so far back I couldn’t really see her but she sounded good (of course later there was controversy about the fact that she was actually lip syncing). Now I did get a glimpse of Michelle and Barack as they walked through the street during the parade, but I had to maneuver my way in front of some people at some point, which is one of the advantages of being short and agile. I was glad to be able to be a part of this historic event, but umm it was definitely a case of overpromising and under delivering….you get what you pay for.
One of the highlights of the trip was getting to visit the MLK Memorial as part of this trip.
