Richard Tafoya
Jan 18th, 2009, 11:56 PM
LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/inauguration/la-na-crash-pad19-2009jan19,0,7947249.story
On planes and in cars, from the East and the West, Barack Obama fans have descended upon Deanna and Linphord Darlington's two-bedroom townhouse in the southwest section of the nation's capital.
Maryanne Rehberg and Chris Hogeland, both social workers, flew in from Santa Cruz on Thursday night to bunk in the loft.
Next came Deanna's brother and two longtime friends who caravaned from Rochester, N.Y., bearing an air mattress, blankets, pillows, lasagna and wine. Two of them snagged the guest room. The third scored the pullout sofa in the home office.
...
"We should have an emergency evacuation plan -- 'the nearest exit may be behind you,' " said Rehberg, 41, who has known Deanna for 14 years. "Every surface space, every comforter, every drop of hot water is being utilized."
In the days before the inauguration, nearly all hotel rooms in town have been booked and apartments sublet, but that didn't stop thousands of Americans without reservations from making the pilgrimage to see Obama sworn in as president.
The housing solution they've found gives new meaning to Obama's pledge to unite the country. Across the Washington area, generous souls have turned their houses, apartments and dorm rooms into crash pads for friends and family members and their friends.
But it's not only a cheaper -- even cozier -- option. The inauguration has kicked off a national sleepover of the excited throngs who have flocked here.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/inauguration/la-na-crash-pad19-2009jan19,0,7947249.story
On planes and in cars, from the East and the West, Barack Obama fans have descended upon Deanna and Linphord Darlington's two-bedroom townhouse in the southwest section of the nation's capital.
Maryanne Rehberg and Chris Hogeland, both social workers, flew in from Santa Cruz on Thursday night to bunk in the loft.
Next came Deanna's brother and two longtime friends who caravaned from Rochester, N.Y., bearing an air mattress, blankets, pillows, lasagna and wine. Two of them snagged the guest room. The third scored the pullout sofa in the home office.
...
"We should have an emergency evacuation plan -- 'the nearest exit may be behind you,' " said Rehberg, 41, who has known Deanna for 14 years. "Every surface space, every comforter, every drop of hot water is being utilized."
In the days before the inauguration, nearly all hotel rooms in town have been booked and apartments sublet, but that didn't stop thousands of Americans without reservations from making the pilgrimage to see Obama sworn in as president.
The housing solution they've found gives new meaning to Obama's pledge to unite the country. Across the Washington area, generous souls have turned their houses, apartments and dorm rooms into crash pads for friends and family members and their friends.
But it's not only a cheaper -- even cozier -- option. The inauguration has kicked off a national sleepover of the excited throngs who have flocked here.