As you know my band and I performed at the Black Tie and Boots Inaugural Ball put on by the Texas State Society of Washington D.C.  Besides the ridiculous routing by whoever booked the flights from Austin to D.C, the experience was exhilarating. We performed the morning of the inauguration.  (Technically our show began on the morning of the inauguration because our show started around 1am) Later that morning when President Obama was sworn in, my band and I were in the hotel lobby waiting for our ride to the airport en route back to Austin.  Then as the morning progressed the realization that the possibility of our transportation to the airport being cancelled due to inauguration traffic, was increasing by the minute.  So, we decided to watch the ceremony on the big screens in the hotel lobby.  And of course, our worst fears were realized when the driver ditched us.  When something like this happens, you better have a superior tour manager.  (And I do)  Needles to say there were some tense moments that morning.  (But that’s a whole other blog)  Milton tore up the phones and computer until all 9 of my crew and band had new flights back to Austin.    

            As non eloquent as I am about articulating my knowledge of politics and history, I must express to you what I saw and what I was feeling during the swearing in of Barack Obama.  As my band and I watched the ceremony I was very aware of the people who sat with me to watch this historical event unfold.  People of different nationalities, social, ethnic and economic backgrounds gathered around the big screens in the hotel atrium.  (Including the employees of the hotel)  Everyone, it seemed, at the Gaylord National Hotel, stopped what they were doing (except for my tour manager) to watch as the first minority was sworn into the highest office in politics.  I don’t pretend to be a historian but I’ve seen enough documentaries and read enough literature to have images of the civil rights era engraved into my memory.  Images of Rosa Parks taking a stand by simply sitting, of firemen violently spraying down young African Americans with intense water pressure from giant water hoses, Martin Luther King proclaiming, “I have a dream”, and of course the assassination of Dr. King and JFK.  Those images in my mind combined with seeing tears flowing down the faces of those individuals of color as they watched the swearing in of our first African American President was a site to behold.  Let’s face it, whatever I blog at this point regarding my personal feelings as I witnessed President Obama’s swearing in, will not do my feelings justice.  Let’s just say I felt very proud to be an American.  We shocked the world.  (which brings me to the coolest part of the trip for me)    

            When we  finally arrived at Ronald Reagan International airport, guess who walked right by me while I was at the self check in counter?  I’ll give you another hint…………Unarguably the greatest sports figure of all time.  As a matter of fact, The Greatest Of All Time.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen I had a brush with greatness…………………………………………………….Muhammad Ali.

See you on the road,

RT