I believe it is important, whenever possible, to witness historical events first-hand. This can be somewhat tricky, in that we often don't contemporaneously know when history will be made, and we've missed a lot of the best history, not having been alive in the past and all. That explains the relatively few eyewitness reports I've written about Charlemagne, although you can bet that if I were alive in 768 I would have hopped on a bus to see his father, "Peppin the Short" bequeath Charlemagne his lands!

In my lifetime, when I sensed history was proximate, I've done all I can to be there. I was at the past 6 Democratic National Conventions. I was at both Bill Clinton Inaugurals, and once spent a weekend drinking with George McGovern (true story).

Sometimes I've guessed wrong about when history will be made. In retrospect getting that "I voted for President Morris Udall" tattoo across my chest was probably a mistake. And when my buddy "Stimps" wrote asking the Beatles to reunite for his high school prom in 1979, I thought it was unlikely they would, but I showed up just in case. The reunion never happened, but I did wind up getting his date to help me wash my car, and we got to listen to a lot of Styx that night.

This past year has seemed to simply crackle with history. We had both the first woman and the first African-American with a serious chance to be elected President. I wanted to be there for as much of it as I could. The first thing I thought was important to do was to back the right candidate (aka: the eventual winner). In an election, backing the winner means access and reflected glory. Backing a loser can mean spending the key moments of the election eating Cheeze-its and flipping channels between CNN and Rachel Ray making tuna-nachos.

The problem is that I almost never back the winner. In fact, my support for a candidate usually guarantees that they are indicted and/or eaten by crocodiles (or both) within days. I've had grown men weeping at my feet begging me to endorse their political opponents. You may have noticed that George McGovern was never President. My guy! You won't be reading many books about Gary Hart's first term. While he was in Biminy on the "Monkey Business," I was at my kitchen table hand-lettering "Go Gary!" yard signs. Tom Harkin? All mine! Ted Kennedy? Quit my work-study job to work for him. Fred Harris, Paul Simon, John Edwards? Me, me, me!

With this history, I was not particularly optimistic as the 2008 cycle got started. There were times when I thought I'd just start the "I [heart] Mike Gravel Fan Club" and be done with it. But then, a miracle happened (no, not Celine Dion's record contract being cancelled, but that would be good too!): I decided to back Barack Obama, and he actually won.

When I came out for Barack, I was one of only a small handful of Democratic elected officials who supported him. Most of the Pennsylvania political establishment was for Hillary. As a result, I had incredible access, and the chance to participate in amazing events. I was asked to speak at rallies and introduce Barack. I got to go to lots of events with famous surrogates. The highlight for me was introducing actress Jessica Lange at a coffee in Bryn Mawr. We really hit it off, although she did give me a funny look when I claimed to be her body-double in all of her action films. I was a delegate at the National Convention, and a member of the Electoral College. Now, I am completing the circle and heading down to DC for the Inauguration of the first man I ever backed from day one as the next President of the United States.

Some of you (Hi Mom!) will remember that I blogged from the Convention in Denver. I will be doing the same from DC. I will try to impart to you some small sense of what it is like from the first hand perspective of someone who loves history, and who thinks they're really funny after their second virgin egg-nog. I hope you enjoy the eyewitness account of Barack Obama's swearing-in.

As I pack for the trip (lots of warm clothes, granola bars, and Dr. Phil tapes) I am mindful of the unique opportunity I have. Even though I will be a small speck in a sea of people, and Barack will probably just be a distant voice on a distorted amplification system, I will be there. I will be there, like the folks in Gettysburg when Lincoln spoke were there. I'll be there like the people at Carpenter Hall or the moon launch or Woodstock were there. I'll have the chance to taste history in a way that watching TV or reading a book can't touch. I hope I can do it all justice.

I also hope that Barack gives me a shout-out during the Inaugural address. I'll keep you all posted!

Daylin