We made it to DC

This morning we caught an 8:10am flight from El Paso to Baltimore, which sounds really easy until you realize that we were up until 2am getting to finally pack our bags and we had to get up at 5:30am to get on the road for the 40 mile trek to El Paso airport. American Airline was prompt, courteous and a really good deal since we used our credit card miles to purchase. We arrived on time and without delays, got a beautiful black Nissan SUV at Alamo and were on our way to DC via the Baltimore/Washington Parkway.



We wound our way to the capital trying to read the smallest type a map could ever have (they seem to shrink every year) and we had to stop and ask directions from only one Capital officer that knew we were lost tourists since we tried to drive down a restricted entrance. He was ever so helpful and we wished him good luck this weekend which he appreciated with a smile. We arrived at the Longworth House office building, where newly elected Congressman Harry Teague's office had Inauguration tickets waiting for us. Rich had to drop me off as we weren't sure where to park and our 6pm deadline was drawing near. I met down the hall fellow New Mexicans Representative Joni Gutierrez and Mary Gail Gwaltney as they were leaving the Congressman's office. So after saying a quick hello and good-bye, Art Terrazas continued his escort service from the stairway and back to the office with me in tow. It was great to see Congressman Teague's office running so smoothly and his staff working as if they had been there for years, protecting our welfare and interests. Too bad he wasn't elected sooner! After a short wait, I was overwhelmed when Mr. Terrazas presented the tickets, a commemorative program, and official pictures of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden. I once again realized the awesomeness of having such an outstanding new President! I could hardly say goodbye or show my deep appreciation for the help in securing these highly demanded tickets for this historical event.



We had a wonderful dinner with my cousin's son Elliott, who just moved to Maryland to work as a Naval Architect for the Naval Service Warfare Center and was gracious enough to let us crash his guest room for the long weekend. His great roommates, Adam and Danielle, add to the household of smart, hardworking young people that are the core of re-building our Country. This leads me back to the very talented and hard working staff that gave their heart and souls for months on end to organize the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) for Barack Obama. We were so privileged to work with such dedicated and smart young people, that created with their regional and national counterparts, a networking system so very impressive and obviously successful, that it made those of us who volunteered, feel that it was a very productive and valuable use of our time. We all bonded in a way that we really hadn't expected and the memories of which we will never forget. We look forward to seeing many of them Sunday night at a gathering just for the "Obama Inauguration Reunion Celebration" organized by and for the Las Cruces staff and volunteers, many of which came from other parts of the Country.