I admit, I was pretty nervous about having a live inauguration at the Capitol. It seemed way too risky to have all of our greatest leaders in one place. Just make Biden and Harris the President and VP over zoom and call it a day! But it turns out, a big beautiful HAPPY event at the Capitol was exactly what we needed. Not just to inaugurate the new administration, but to show the world and prove to ourselves that we are STILL a great, strong nation.

A little broken, but rising again, with the knowledge of how fiercely we must protect our democracy.

The moment that broke me was when the Obamas entered. I was a puddle. What an incredible win for human decency and progress. Seeing Kamala get sworn in was powerful, hearing Biden’s words was like a giant exhale and then poet laureate Amanda Gorman took the stage. “We learned that quiet isn’t always peace, and the norms and notions of what ‘just is’ isn’t always justice.” Her words were captivating, but the thing I loved the most is that you could tell Kamala and Joe were really listening to her.

The kids were both in school during the inauguration, but I know Mazzy was watching because she messaged me the moment Biden was sworn in.

The inauguration officially closed the door on our four year nightmare and now the real work can start. On that first day that Biden was in office, he signed executive orders to rejoin the Paris Agreement, resume engagement with the World Health Organization, create a COVID-19 Response coordinator position and impose a federal grounds mask mandate. Other executive orders included ending the Muslim ban, preserving the DACA program, terminating the border wall construction, prohibiting workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, working to embed equity across all federal policymaking, and including non-citizens in the census to make sure there is an accurate population count for each state.

ALSO! All appointees will have to sign an ethics pledge. IMAGINE THAT.

I know this is all just words on paper right now, but how good does it feel to have the right words written down??? Also, I love that I got most of this info from Jen Psaki, the new press secretary, who said the new administration’s goal was to share true and accurate information with the American people.

Hallelujah!!! I feel proud of my country today.

After Mazzy and Harlow got home from school, we watched the festivities together. Mazzy had seen a lot of the inauguration already at school, but Harlow hadn’t. She very specifically wanted to watch the swearing in part. Then she asked if someone ran for President if they could pick anyone they wanted to run with them. I said “Yes, but there will be a lot of people who have opinions about it.” She said that if she runs for President one day, she wants to make me her Vice President. I said that was cool with me.

Inauguration Day culminated in the moment below and I still get choked up thinking about it. We watched our new female Vice President speaking to our nation, showing young girls everywhere what we can accomplish. And then Katy Perry started singing and the fireworks went off and I just about lost it.

So much hope in that moment!!!

It is a wonderful feeling to be heading in the right direction again. A path toward PROGRESS.

Good luck, Joe and Kamala! We can’t wait to see what you will do.