The Queen

Joining that women's political group last summer was totally worth the $25! Not only did I get a fabulous chicken salad sandwich at a luncheon the day I joined, but last week an email came in offering tickets to Queen Elizabeth's arrival ceremony for the first few respondents, and you better believe I was one of them. The only problem was that I didn't have anyone to go with. This meant I would have to make friends.

So Monday morning at 7:20am, as I stepped off at the Federal Triangle metro stop, I quickly identified a group of five that were headed to the Southeast Gate of the White House as well. Twenty minutes later, I was being included in some of their photographs as we stood in line waiting for the gates to open. Going early was an excellent idea, because we were among the first 40 people in line with thousands filing in behind us only an hour later. I had worried I might be hidden in a crowd at the ceremony, unable to see a thing, but I got a spot right at the fence and wasn't ten feet away from the Queen and the President as they walked by the Air Force band during the ceremony. It was an awesome experience, but had I been stuck in the back, I doubt it would've been worth the four hours I spent standing.

Unfortunately, I have an ordinary digital camera that took some really crappy pictures including every single picture of the Queen with the sun glaring off of her white skirt suit. The man next to me who promised to email his close-ups hasn't done it so far, but I'm still crossing my fingers. My new friends, however, also have a fancy digital and sent me the link to their shots. Here are a few of my favorites:

Confirming name and ticket number.

South Lawn view.

Press, of course.

Tuba reflections.

My view was closer :)

After the ceremony, I spotted my Senator from Nebraska, introduced myself and chatted for a little while.

The day was gorgeous and the ceremony was . . . fit for a queen.