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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.

It's a big job for anyone who becomes President of the USA, but I feel it's a taller order for a visible minority -- one who looks like a black man. We naturally fear what we don't know but Americans decided to change this; to overcome their fears when they voted for the best person to hold the CEO position of the United States of America.

It's time we put aside our preconceived ideas when it comes to certain people. CEOs of the world, look around you and recognize the potential of your employees. Barack Obama is only one to choose from. There are many of us who are capable of climbing the corporate ladder. I have three wonderful, fun, smart sons. The world is theirs to explore and they will do that. George and I will continue to teach them that everything is possible for them to achieve if they work hard enough; If they study; And if they focus and believe in themselves. Just thinking of this possibility brings tears to my eyes.

Congratulations to Barack Obama for his professional accomplishments. From a humble beginning you proved that any dream, be it Amercan or otherwise, is truly possible. Yes we can. Yes you did. January 20, 2009 -- my family and I will never forget this day for the rest of our lives.

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6:45 PM:

After a long and most historic day the Emerson boys celebrate over dinner. Cobgratulations Barack Obama--the 44th President of the United States of America! Yeah!

-- Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 3:29 PM:

We found mom. She is fine. Cold but fine. Washington police did a great job. When mom discovered she was seperated from our group she looked for police. They called my cell phone. No more communiques for now with all of you. Need a time out.

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1:08 PM:

"Land of the free and the home of the brave." what a powerful statement this line is from the US national anthem. Today every word of it is the truth. Way to go America.

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 11:52 AM:

The crowd listens quietly as the reverend delivers the prayer up until he mentions that he is "the first African American President of the United States of America." We all cheer wildly. Amen to that!

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 11:01 AM:

Great news. George found an even better location. GREAT view of Capitol Hill. Excellent view of a jumbotron and the best part is that we are now not jammed in with people touching us from all sides -- a premium today and George found it. Amazing.

I now have to venture to a portable toilet -- Bobby's Potty it's called. Wish me luck it could be the most frightening experience yet.

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 10:29 AM:

Minutes to go. I mus tadmit that I'm feeling a bit nervous. I can see security sharp shooters on the rooftops of so many buildings, lined-up to the Hill. I just said a small prayer "please God don't let anything happen to him. Let him be sworn in as the 44th presdient of the United States of America."

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 9:57 AM:

I must admit it feels a long time until two hours passes and the swearing in begins. The boys are real troopers. They remain patient without any props. This in itself is a miracle.

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 7:47 AM:

We are off of train and at our destination to get spot near Capitol Hill. The crowds are unbelievable. We are moving like snails.

--Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6:50 AM:

Our train is packed. Inauguration ceremony not happening fro another six hours! Everyone wants a good view, including us.

-- Charmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6:46 AM:

Chairmain and Campbell pictured, crowd in with George, Miles and Noah on the METRO train at 6 a.m. Train cars into the Capitol zone have been packed since 4 a.m.

-- George Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6:37 AM:

On the platform. Miles looks freezing because it is. 20 degrees F. The platform was packed at 6:30 a.m.

-- Chairmain Emerson

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 5:37 AM:

Got up at 5 a.m. after getting to bed at 1 a.m. The METRO was packed last night. People crammed into train cars like sardines and it wasn't even inauguration day yet. Turns out those I chatted with were headed down to inauguration central. I have not heard back from Lindsay, the woman we met who had extra tickets. Slight disappointment but so what. It's not stopping us. You never know what will happen once we get there. Miracles can happen.

-- Charmain Emerson

Monday, Jan. 19, 4:21 PM:

Forgot to share this with all of you after last night's concert. This is a shot of the Hotel (The Hay Adams) where the Obama family and the "transitional team" is residing. Security was everywhere and continues to be today too. Security guys (are they called sharp shooters?) are outfitted in black. They stand on rooftops around the hotel including the The Hay Adams itself. Looking at them it felt a scene in a James Bond movie.

-- Charmain Emerson

Monday, Jan. 19, 4:12 PM:

What can I tell you. It doesn't matter how hard you try as a parent to give your children good food and proper nutrition there seems to be one meal that they always cry out for -- PIZZA.

We are very close to Capitol Hill attempting to scout out our location for tomorrow's big day.

-- Charmain Emerson

Monday, Jan. 19, 11:52 AM:

Today, I met two men who came all the way from Johannesburg, South Africa, just to see the Presidential Inauguration. This signifies just how historic this event is. It's also sort of a coincidence, because, 18 years ago, in South Africa, an event sort of like this took place. It was the election of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first Black president and also the first ruler to believe in anti-apartheid rule. Well, bye for now. I'm headed to the Washington monument.

-- Campbell Emerson, age 12

Monday, Jan. 19, 11:31 AM:

While scouting a place for brunch, Charmain spots an X ring on a man in the cafe. I went to "X", St Francis Xavier University in Antoigonish, NS, and so she knows the distinctive big black X on the gold band. She strikes up a conversation with the man and it turns out he has arrived just yesterday all the way from Johannesburg, South Africa. His name is Vuka Nkosi, and he came with his friend Tlhalefo Moloi. Vuka went to St. FX as an adult student from 1991 to 1994 and Tlhalefo went to St Mary's University in Halifax. As a diehard Bluenoser, I love the Nova Scotia connection.

We are so impressed that they have come all this way and we say our journey from Toronto seems so small compared to theirs. Voka says, "When Nelson Mandela was freed, everyone around the world, Americans, Canadians, everyone supported us. So we came to support America at this historic time."

Watching from afar, people may feel that there is a lot of hype and overblown coverage of the Obama Inauguration, and that's an understandable reaction. But when you are here, on the ground, in the streets, and talk to people like Voka and Tlhalefo and appreciate the sincere good will they have for what is happening in the United States, well, you can ignore the sneers of the cynics when you see the genuine smiles of real people.

-- George Emerson

Monday, Jan. 19, 11:12 AM:

How far they travel. You will not believe this. The boys, George and I walk into a lovely French cafe in Alexandria, Virginia this morning looking for a bite to eat. Le Pain Quotidien. I notice two black men sitting together by the cafe window, chatting. As one of them gets up to put his coat on, I notice a familiar ring. Gold, rectangular with a bold black "X" in the center of it. There is only one meaning behind that symbol -- St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia! I walk up to the man instantly and say to him "That's St. FX. When did you go there and where are you from?"

"South Africa," he tells me, "Johannesburg." He and his friend arrived yesterday after a 16 hour flight to witness for themselves, the inauguration of Barack Obama. The 1/2 African who in their minds is the perfect living example of equality between blacks and whites.

This event for me, is not about the second coming of Christ as some Globe bloggers have criticized it to be. To say that means you don't get it. Black people are proud of Barack Obama because to the world, when you look at Obama, you see black. It's a simple fact. If we didn't know his genetic make up was 50 percent white, and we met him, we would all see him as a black man. The South Africans, like myself, have come to Washington with pride. I am proud that Americans were able to put aside their past history on negative race relations and elect the best person for the job. This in itself is the history and triumph that I celebrate. Isn't it great that so many people of different cultural backgrounds and skin tones are filled with pride and admiration for Barack Obama because of who he is? No judgments or preconceived notions based on what he looks like. Fantastic.

-- Charmain Emerson

Sunday, Jan. 18, 4:22 PM:

The Emerson boys outside the Smithsonian, listening to Springsteen and Seeger and the millions singing "This Land Is Your Land....My Land" - "Who are those old guys?" they ask.

-- George Emerson

Sunday, Jan. 18, 3:35 PM:

A minor correction… Sherly Crow is now on stage singing Bob Marley's "One Love". She's strumming the guitar. Will.I.AM joins in and Herbie Hancock is on keyboards. This is fantastic! The crowd just screamed out as we saw Obama rocking his body in rhythmic motion along with the tune.

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Sunday, Jan. 18, 3:32 PM:

Just heard that "allegedly" there are 500,000 people here now. It doesn't feel like that at all from where we're standing. Lots of order here. Not feeling crammed at all. We're all feeling so great. Josh Groben now on stage singing with the choir. I just figured out that text messages are getting out. Laura Linney and Martin Luther King Jr.'s son are now on stage. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"--- these are the words we all here played back by FDR. A clip from JFK now plays "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country"! We are all being reminded of the role we all have to play in this road to "renewal of faith; togetherness; oneness" Mary J. Blige now takes the stage singing "Lean On Me". You help but to sing along and so we do…. "We all need somebody to lean on"

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Sunday, Jan. 18, 3:25 PM:

John Legend on stage right now winging with Sheryl Crow and James Taylor. This has been amazing!

Text Message -- Charmain Emerson

Sunday, Jan. 18, 3:22 PM:

Patti LaBelle on stage singing a duet with Jon Bon Jovi! They're singing a soulful rendition of a Sam Cooke song "A Change a Gonna Come." It's fantastic. What a pair!

Text message -- Charmain Emerson

Sunday, Jan. 18, 2:52 PM:

We're on the concert grounds. No idea how many people are here right now at "The Mall". That's what they call the large green space between the Lincoln Memorial and Capital Hill. Mom is 4'11"--unfortunately she's too short to even view a screen. "I guess -I'l just have to listen I guess".

The Boss just took the stage. This is an incredible moment. It doesn't matter that there are crowds in every direction that I look. The feeling of being here, in the moment and as it happens is fantastic. I'm feeling badly for Mom. Wish I could pick her up and put her on my shoulders. Her 4 foot 11 height is definitely a challenge in this 5 foot plus crowd.

-- Charmain Emerson

Sunday, Jan. 18, 1:01 PM:

You name it, everything is for sale to capture the memory. Obama bear for sale $10 each. Miles really wants one. Just bought a flag and buttons for all. Noah says to me, "Mom, you're getting everything Obama. They got you!"

-- Charmain Emerson

Sunday, Jan. 18, 11:51 AM:

We are all about to ride our first METRO right to Lincoln Memorial---site of today's free concert and the official kick off to the Inauguration celebration. Obamamania is everywhere. Even the METRO tickets have the fever!

-- Charmain Emerson

Saturday, Jan. 17

At the local pub in Alexandria across from the capital, even the waiters stop to watch the TV when the news announces that the train carrying the next President has arrived at Washington, D.C.'s Union Station. Campbell Emerson is also keen on the news of the progress towards the Inauguration.

 

Charmain strikes up a conversation with a couple of locals in the local pub, after a day of touring the D.C. area and countryside. Turns out the locals, Lindsay and Max, might know about one or two spare tickets for an actual seat at the swearing-in ceremony - since some people think it is too cold to sit outside, even for history. Charmain keeps her fingers crossed to get a ticket. After all, the winning campaign was all about Hope, however impossible it might seem.

Campbell tries his first oyster, from Chesapeake Bay. The rest of the party compare Canadian oysters, from Malpeque Bay, PEI, to the local Chesapeake selection.

Charmain and her cousins arrive at an Alexandria restaurant after a refreshingly cold day touring the countryside of Mount Vernon. Campbell and Noah enjoy a root beer and mocking the adults' thirst.

 

 

Charmain Emerson with her husband's cousin Dan Morrison (hosting her family), with Miles, Campbell, and Noah arriving at Mount Vernon, George Washington's plantation. The boys notice the parking lot is filled with license plates from all over the USA - people driving in for the Inauguration? they wonder.

Charmain is very happy to be carded, asked for proof of age, at a local establishment. She is 43, feeling younger to be carded... and a bit surprised at the security minded mentality everywhere.

 

 

Noah Emerson at the slave cabin on the Washington plantation.

 

 

Saturday, Jan. 17, 3:38 PM: Standing on the back terrace off of the dining room of General Washington's estate home. What a view to have after each night's meal.

-- George Emerson

 

 

Saturday, Jan. 17, 2:30 PM: Mom and George's cousin Dan walk down a beautiful path towards the Potomac River. The estate property is breathtakingly beautiful. When Mom discovered that the graves of the slaves were unmarked she said, "Oh dear. Isn't it a shame to think that they worked so hard to help build and maintain these lovely grounds but no one knows their names"

-- Charmain Emerson

Saturday, Jan. 17, 1:39 PM: At Mount Vernon, George Washington's home in Alexandria, Virginia. Martha and George Washington are buried here. Campbell read Martha's tomb stone and was shocked to discover that Martha died on his birthday--May 22nd.

--George Emerson

 

 

Saturday, Jan. 17, 10:41 AM: This morning we're off to Mount Vernon, the plantation of George Washington just south and across the river from Washington DC. We're going to look for Henry Washington, the man who used to run Gen. Washington's stables, who ended up being one of the early settlers of Canada. He was a leader of the Black Loyalists - the slaves who freed themselves and joined the British in fighting against Gen. Washington's army. They didn't think Jefferson and Washington were being true to themselves when they declared that, "All men are created equal." But the recent election proves that the U.S. can become, "a more perfect union."

-- George Emerson

Friday, Jan. 16, 9:28 PM: The highway sign reads Pennslyvania Avenue next exit. Thank goodness. It's been a very long day. As we look off the highway to our right you can't miss the site of the the tall obelisk structure thrusting out to the sky. The Washington monument. Lit up in all its glory. Next our eyes set onto the big dome of Capital Hill. Miles is fast asleep but both Campbell and Noah are wide awake. I wonder how Barack and Michelle must be feeling right about now? Imagine becoming President of the United States of America? Imagine being the first black President of the United States? Amazing. Overwhelming. Frightening! The temperature is minus 9. Definitely warmer than Toronto but who am I kidding--it's cold. Time to get the boys unpacked and into bed. We're staying with George's cousin Dan and his wife Liane. Night all.

-- Charmain Emerson

Friday, Jan. 16, 3:55 PM: We're now in Western Pennsylvania. It looks a lot like Cape Breton highlands area. We had a minor meltdown on our lunch break. Miles, our 8 year old was not in favour of having a Subway sandwich for lunch. It had to be pizza or he was not leaving the car! Comments started flying like "I'll just starve to death". "I don't care about Obama anymore!" Needless to say, pizza was served. It's a tad warmer here in Penn state. Just a mere minus 13 celsius! We have been listening to the soothing voice of Barack Obama ever since we left Toronto. George downloaded and purchased"Dreams From My Father" audio book. It's wonderful. Quite a few funny tales but mostly a terrific insight into the kind of man Obama is. How he handled issues of race during his youth is exactly why he won the Presidential race. Instead of focusing on the race issues he continued to move forward. I think it's now official--- I have a crush on Obama :)

-- Charmain Emerson

Friday, Jan. 16, 11:29 AM: The borderguard at Queenston Bridge was very nice when he heard we were going to the Inauguration. He wanted to know if we were going to the Springsteen concert and any of the balls.

While crossing the Niagara River, I told the boys about the battle of Queenston Heights and the War of 1812, and Canadian and American history, which Campbell the oldest is studying in Grade 7 history. The boys said, "cool," as they briefly glanced up from their nintendo's.

Maybe history should be a video game ...

-- George Emerson

Mapping the journey

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