At sundown on Inaugrual Day I was still receiving texts, emails, and pictures from friends. At 7 p.m. I took to the streets of Seventh Avenue to take the pulse.
At Miracle Grill there was a Move On party that was packed with people eating, drinking and talking enthusiastically. I did a quick scan to see if I knew anyone and walked out — it was too noisy to hear myself think or even do much eavesdropping.
A middles-aged man in an overcoat, holding a book called 300 Ways to Have Fun and a briefcase stopped me on my way out.
"Leaving so soon?" he said. "I'm from out of town and I hear there's a party of progressives in there."
"That's right," I said and kept walking.
"Would you like to join me for a drink? I worked on the Obama campaign.. ". .
Out of curiosity, I walked back in and we chatted a bit. He handed me his card and told me he worked on efforts to prevent voter fraud, that he'd just moved to NYC from the Bay area, that he'd actually written that book,"300 Ways to Have Fun."
"I'm off to the Community Bookstore. Have a good night," I said and we shook hands.
A small group was still in the back of the Community Bookstore watching streaming video of CNN coverage of the day when I got there. Catherine, owner of the bookstore, had the idea that the group should read Thomas Jefferson and Lincoln and she ran to the shelves to find some books. Someone suggested Frederick Douglas and she located a book of his essays, too.
A passage of Frederick Douglass' writing was randomly selected and it was miraculous for its pertinence and power. A vibrant discussion followed about the meaning of the day. The group talked about an article in the New York Times about Obama's reading habits.
"It's incredible to have a president who reads Doris Lessing," someone said.
Champagne was poured, people nibbled on what was left at the food table. When Craig Hammerman, District Manager of Community Board 6, arrived, Catherine was standing on a chair reading the Declaration of Independence in her soft girlish voice.
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –That to secure these
rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish
it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles
and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to
effect their Safety and Happiness…
The group quietly chanted along with the familiar parts. She read for more than ten minutes and it seemed like exactly the right thing to be doing on this inaugural night. As I left the store Catherine ran over to give me a big hug and whispered something about it being a new day.
"Keep on doing your good work," I said as I walked out into the night.