Jeffrey and I took the day off yesterday, unsure if it would be a day of celebration or a day of shock and horror. We are relieved it was the latter. We did not watch any coverage of the blot on humanity’s departure; instead we watched only coverage of inauguration prep and arrivals. Here are my favorite moments of the day:

A reporter announcing the arrival of “Michelle Obama and her husband, the former President.” Awesome!

Getting goosebumps when Lady Gaga passionately sang the National Anthem.

Feeling an overwhelming sense of joy when Kamala Harris smiled at the end of her Oath.

Watching Amanda Gorman, the first National Youth Poet Laureate, touch a nation with her words.

Hearing “President Joseph Biden” for the first time.

Seeing all the masks and watching everyone fist bump.

Watching the new first family walk to the White House.

President Biden (I’ll never tire of saying that) has hit the ground running, repealing discriminatory executive orders, rejoining WHO and the Paris Climate Accords. Stopping the wall and the pipeline. Creating a fair path for citizenship. But my favorite part thing so far – Biden addressed his new staff and his expectation of behavior:

“I’m not joking when I say this: If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect or talk down to someone, I promise you, I will fire you on the spot — on the spot. No ifs ands or buts. Everybody is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity. That’s been missing in a big way the last four years. We’re going to be judged whether or not we restored the integrity and competency in this government. I need your help badly.

You’re engaged in and you’re working with the most decent government in the world. And we have to restore the soul of this country. And I’m counting on all of you to be a part of that – it’s not hyperbole. You work for the people.

The only thing I expect with absolute certainty is honesty and decency, the way you treat one another, the way you treat the people you deal with.“

That, my friends, is a President. Bravo, Mr. President. Bravo!