That certainly seemed to be the general sentiment among the Inaugural ball attendees—especially the Walker/Bush clan. My colleague, Tim Wolff, had a connection to the family and therefore the two of us were allowed to belong to the “Bush Friends and Family” crowd for an evening. With a little red “W” pin designating our status as close, personal friends of the Pres, we bussed from the Mayflower Hotel to the Texas-Wyoming Ball amidst the sound of loud and friendly Texas accents.
The Convention Center ballroom was as big and dramatic as some of the hairstyles (most of the attendees were Texans). Decorated with giant blue and red lights and patriotic banners of stars and stripes, it looked more like the Republican National Convention than a setting for a ball. Still, the spirits were high and the bolo ties were a-plenty. Everyone was eagerly waiting the arrival of the newly sworn-in officials.
Vice President Cheney had spoken earlier in the evening, but the “W” busses arrived shortly after his speech. We missed a rare opportunity to see a light-hearted Dick Cheney dancing with Lynne. Perhaps someone else can comment on the appearance. I did, however, witness the arrival of the president and the First Lady a little later in the evening. Bush waved to the crowd, gracious about his re-election, and immediately complimented Laura’s classy evening look. He said something along the lines of, “Those of you men married to a Texas woman know how thankful I am tonight for my lovely companion.” The two pleased the crowd with the traditional “first dance” and quickly left the stage to attend the 8 other balls. Most hoped the president could’ve stayed longer, but there were numerous other famous faces to spot.
On the floor, I saw attorney general nominee Alberto Gonzales posing for pictures with a few adoring fans. I also happened to run into Mike Shanahan, coach of the Denver Broncos, and chatted with him about my home state, Colorado. At one point in the evening, I was focused so much on navigating through the crowds that I didn’t even notice bumping shoulders with Rudy Giuliani. Apparently, I had plowed right through his security guards without noticing. So, Mr. Giuliani…my apologies. It was that kind of busy environment that a person could’ve easily overlooked even the most famous stars…especially since the “nobody’s” all looked like “somebody’s.”
After the champagne was drunk and the ground littered with cups and plates, the evening concluded with dancing, dancing, and more dancing. Like my senior prom, ladies were pulled up on the stage by the band’s singer to dance in the spotlight. The classic “dance circles” were made and there were many “lower lip bites” as people moved to the funk-a-delic beats of the band. The music of the late, great Rick James seemed to be a favorite among the bands throughout the night. Apparently nothing captures the essence of a presidential inauguration like “Super Freak.”
With all of the glitz, glam, and good times, one thing’s for sure: the people of the big open states of Wyoming and Texas sure know how to throw a party. I’m honored that the “Bush Friends and Family” allowed me to partake in a truly memorable evening.