Observations from DC on the Occasion of Regime Change
Margy Waller
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Washington, DC
These past few days, we can see the evidence of regime change in the crowds of people on the streets and in fun art – in addition to the widely watched music and readings for HBO on the mall today.
Besides the people, we see other clues. There are lots more than the usual quotient of black town cars, limos, SUVs, and tour buses. My neighborhood CVS has signage announcing plans to stay open round-the-clock until after the inauguration and one of the pubs has a chalkboard note proclaiming that it is now "Obama-Time."
This weekend, everyone has old friends coming to town and there's Obama paraphernalia everywhere. At "Wake Up Little Suzie" up the street there are Obama collage clocks made out of old CDs, purses made from repurposed materials with Obama's likeness all over them, even clear glycerin soap with a photo of Obama – so much creative, visual art it's hard to resist a purchase. Even the drugstore offers an Obama section.
But, I really truly had to buy the 'Bama Bouquet made by a local artist. For sale in the Frame Mart Gallery up the street – where the owner always has a small offering of art for sale – the bouquet is made of tulip-shaped paper flowers made from colored paper with small dime-sized Obamas stamped all over them.
In my apartment building, the doorman told me there's a fair amount of excitement about the fact that Larry Summers – the incoming Presidential economic advisor – is a new tenant. My own sense of the DC regime change struck first a week or so ago when the first of my long-time colleagues called to talk before her job interview for a position in the White House. That made it all feel real.
I realized that the change moment had hit me hard when I went to get a manicure today. For years, I've eschewed nail polish on my fingernails, opting instead for the super-shiny buff offered by my friend Lee at Nams Posh Nail Salon. But today, I decided that to have polish. And then, faced with Lee's offering of blue or red, I choose blue. A choice my (uber-Republican) friend Chip would surely point out is a political statement. But, I didn't process it that way until I was already walking home.
Tonight, I went to a party in Georgetown that featured red-white-and blue star shaped cookies, a Hope and Change Dress, a Joy hat, and Barack Obama. My friend Audrey lectured him and I gave him a secret tip. (See
photos.)
The weather improved a bit over the weekend. But, in a city where one is as likely to see daffodils blooming in January as several inches of snow from a winter storm – we can only hope that the worst of the bitterness (cold, I mean) is behind us now.
Whatever the weather – it's impossible to be in DC and not love the celebration. It feels so expectant and joyous here.