Inaugural Mood Sunny Despite Cold

By Jill Kuraitis, 1-06-07

Boise woke to startling, sunny cold on Friday. Downtown, the streets surrounding the Statehouse were lined with police cars, TV news rigs, the bomb squad truck - complete with dogs - and various delivery vans pulling up with potted flowers and paraphernalia. Red, white and blue bunting flapped in the cold wind. The greeting of the day was, “Way too cold, how ‘bout them Broncos, huh?” Everyone was bundled up and complaining good-naturedly; an inaugural apparently brings good cheer.

Inside the rotunda, mobs of schoolchildren in matching outfits of black and white with red scarves were being marched around by their teachers, having a quick tour before their turn to sing. Clearly best-behavior lessons had been applied.

A naughty little boy was pulled aside quietly by a young teacher. She knelt down and whispered something to him, smiling. He nodded, his little face serious.

In the elevator, a Statehouse worker with a toolbag over his shoulder grinned at me and said, “What a ruckus, huh? Loudern’ when the Indians have a press conference.”

At noon, Clement Leroy “Butch” Otter was publicly sworn in as Idaho’s new Governor, a 19-gun salute rang out – military protocol for a state governor is 19 - kids sang and flags waved. Otter gave a mighty short and nonspecific inaugural speech and other ceremonial happenings happened.

There was a good feeling in the air as the crowd broke up and the rotunda filled up with more schoolkids, who provided all-day singing on risers smack-dab under the dome.

There’s something about the sound of children singing that sets a mood of all’s-right-with-the-world.

After the crowd went home, Statehouse workers started preparations for Saturday’s Inaugural Ball, and a different kind of ruckus commenced. Coat racks, chairs, flowers, food carts and audio systems appeared. The guy with the toolbag showed up and made the rounds of people needing help with this or that.

Another guy on a ladder looked down at Toolbag Guy. “Hey Tom,” Ladder Guy said, "how about them Broncos?"



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