L'Investiture d'Obama

We really wanted to celebrate Obama's inauguration, despite my partner's outrageous work load and despite my having French Class. We even hired a sitter for the evening.

As usual, our planning was last minute. The party of the evening was "sold-out". We could not get tickets to the Hotel de Ville celebration hosted by the city of Paris, Mayor Bertrand Delanöe, and the (now former) U.S. ambassador. So we searched for other likely venues. The American Bar: too obvious and most likely too crowded. Same for Harry's Bar. The American Church was hosting an event, but since I am adamantly non-religious and avoid churches (except for architectural and historical interest), that was out. The American University? Too many college students, I feared. I read there was an event planned, not too far from our house, in the 10th arrondissement, at a club/bar/restaurant with the unfortunately, unpromising, name "Buzz-Art". But it was close.

Despite the cold, we rode the Velib bikes up to the Canal St Martin. I have, of course, forgotten my code, and now have to go through the laborious process of using a credit card rather than one swift wipe with my Pass - which contributed to our being late. Ten minutes too late. The front man let us in - I don't know why - because it was so packed that we couldn't see the screen. So after a few claustrophobic minutes of listening to Obama's speech in French (it was broadcast here with a voice over), we left. We headed back down the canal, looking for a restaurant or bar with a TV, but with no luck. Funny. It seems on a normal day one can't but escape the ubiquitous, giant, TV screen in Paris cafés. The only TV, we saw, was in a takeout Pizza Place, with the lone proprietaire watching. (I almost asked to join him, but didn't want to impose) So we ended up, back in our usual Tapas restaurant, having a very ordinary but extremely disappointing evening. We didn't get to watch the speech until we returned home at 10 PM, four hours after broadcast. But watch we, finally, did.

The election makes me nostalgic for the States, and particularly NY. We sometimes think of moving back. And we might, particularly if Obama brings about the changes he has promised: most notably, affordable healthcare, childcare, and less bellicose Foreign Policy. But alas, we will never again be able to afford the downtown loft, we left behind. Brooklyn, maybe? Or perhaps, Philly? Or maybe we will stay here - after all life in Paris ain't too bad.