Editor's note: Please scroll down for the latest updates from the Emersons
TORONTO - Early Friday morning, before the cold grey morning lit the homes of Toronto's west end, a three-story red-brick home on Galley Avenue was alight with a yellow glow.
The beam of George Emerson's flashlight hunted through the darkness for suitcases as he stewed the improbable space and geometry that would allow him to cram his family's luggage into the trunk of a 2004 Dodge grand caravan.
Campbell, Noah and Miles Emerson, ages 12, 10, and 8 respectively, had already piled into the van, and were plugged into their hand-held Nintendo game systems, ready for a 10-hour drive to Washington.
The boys were so drawn to their new "Spore Creatures" game, they weren't daunted by the prospect a long drive. Miles said he was excited to see "that big, tall, white needle thing in the park" and Noah said he was the envy of his entire grade school because he'd be attending the inauguration of Barack Obama.
"It's huge, it's a piece of history," he said, glancing up from his hand-held game. "It's very important for my parents because my mom's a huge Obama fan and even if I didn't want to go, I would still have to."
Inside the family home, Charmain Emerson reflected on why nearly 800 kilometres, 2 million revellers and a power outage couldn't keep her from attending Mr. Obama's inauguration. Her father, Horace Mullings, was the first black TTC streetcar driver, and her mother, Daphne Mullings, can remember a time when the colour of her skin barred her from eating in certain restaurants.
Mr. Emerson is white, Ms. Emerson is black, and for the two young parents, this trip was about teaching their bi-racial sons that with hard work, anything is possible, but that this hasn't always been true.
"My children live in a world where they get everything," Ms. Emerson said. "This is a chance for them to stop and reflect and really see how far we've come, and how hard it's been."
With a quick stop in Mississauga to pick up Ms. Mullings, who is now 80, the family will be inauguration bound. Over the next five days, through photography, video and e-mail, the Emersons share their journey with The Globe and Mail below.
UPDATE
In reverse chronological order
Wednesday, Jan. 21
Audio: Miles and Noah Emerson reflect on their trip and the inauguration with Globe reporter Kate Hammer.
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 11:49 AM:
Heading home, an hour north of DC, on I95, we pull off to gas up. Another car pulls into the Exxon station and gases up next to us. The driver asks how to get back on I95, and we start chatting. Turns out he too has been at the Inauguration celebration, coming from Philadelphia. His name is Gilbert Jordan. He and his wife Karen are filled with such good cheer and say how hopeful they now feel about everything, and what a fantastic experience it was to be in the crowd--despite the cold and the long lines.
Turns out as well that, along with positive politics, Gilbert's family and ours shares a love of skiing. Gilbert loves skiing in Quebec. We say we're hastening home so the boys don't miss their ski races this weekend, and agree maybe we'll see each other on a slope sometime, if not at the next Obama inauguration... Meantime, next stop, the true North strong and free. It's been a great time here in the USA but there's no place like home. We're just glad we were here at a time when the capitol of the USA became a bit more like Canada -- kinder, gentler, more inclusive, more open, and certainly COLDER!
-- Charmain Emerson
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 7:36 PM:
As Barack Obama took the stage to be sworn in as the 44th President of the USA, that quick recitation brought tears to my eyes. I could not help myself. I was filled with pride -- thrilled that all of us who came to witness this historic event could stand together, side by side, different sizes, colours, cultures all celebrating and welcoming this new beginning. And it is a new beginning. It's a change in power that has never happened before.
