Thoughts and experiences at the Nobel Peace Prize day in Oslo

Ed and I just got back from Oslo. We had a great time. Of course, it started with our plane being delayed because the Obamas were landing at Gardemoen the same time we were, and then it ended with our plane being delayed because they were taking off at the same time we were! We spent the day outside in the 2 degree C weather with occasional misting rain, hoping for Obama to go by, and watching the speeches on the giant screen outside. Jagland's speech introducing Obama was absolutely riveting. He explained the history of the Nobel prize and its purpose.  It is not to look back and recognize completed successes. It is to influence the future, by giving momentum to a set of causes. "Woodrow Wilson's prize came when he was at his weakest both politically and personally, after suffering a stroke. He had created the League of Nations, but he United States would not join. Wilson was a hero to the world, but not in the U.S."

"Obama's ideals coincide to a large extent with the ideals that have underpinned the activities of the Norwegian Nobel Committee throughout our 108-year history: to strengthen international institutions as much as possible; to advance democracy and human rights; to reduce the importance of arms and preferably do away with nuclear arms altogether; to promote dialogue and negotiations; and, in the last few years, to adopt effective measures to meet the climate threat."

"This is what makes him so important. By his own behaviour and leadership he is demanding that we all "take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges".

"Under Obama's leadership, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous support to the vision of a world without nuclear weapons." At the banquet, Obama said that after Jagland's speech he almost believed he deserved the prize.

Here's the text of his speech. He had Princess Mette-Marie and other women in the audience in tears. The piece I remember in particular was "So let us reach for the world that ought to be – that spark of the divine that still stirs within each of our souls." We need to expand our moral imagination.

We talked to lots of people while we were there. When we first arrived, we stopped in a cafe for something to eat, and to watch Obama and Prime Minister Stoltenberg' press conference. A man from Sri Lanka was also watching. He has been in Norway 20 years, and we talked about the beautiful country he used to have, before decades of civil war destroyed it and scattered his people around the world.

While we were standing outside the City Hall waiting for Obama to drive by, we talked to a couple of different Norwegians, who were quite happy by Obama's winning the prize. Also, there were people handing out signs with big red "O"s for us to hole. There were lots of kids there, and I overheard one puzzle, "Obama is null?"

When the motorcade came by, I think I caught a snapshot of Obama through the tinted window of his president-mobile. Use your imagination here...

When they had passed, we hustled on over to the Akershus Festning to the big screen, and watched the speeches and music. There really weren't that many folks willing to brave the weather. But those who were there were there the whole hour-plus. When Lang Lang started playing his last piano piece, we went to a pizza place to warm up. All the workers were clustered at the door waiting for Obama to go by on the way back to the Grand Hotel.

We had a few minutes for window shopping. Anyone for dried sheep to make Pinnekjøtt? It's hanging from the ceiling behind the window display. I got to go riding in a one-reindeer sleigh, too.

Next up - the Torchlight Parade. We gathered, bought US flags and torches, sang old folk songs, some even in English, and then 10,000 of our closest friends headed down the streets to the Grand Hotel. We walked with a woman named Ragnhild, who is an aid worker in the former Soviet republics in Eastern Europe. She said her life was much easier now that Obama was president. She told us that the government leaders there often pointed to Bush's record on torture and said, "If the US can do it, so can I." Now they can't say that! When we got to the square in front of Obama's balcony, we couldn't get close enough to see them wave to the crowd. Bummer!

We headed over to the Democrats Abroad Norway/ American Coordinating Committee buffet. There were less tickets to that event than to the fancy dress banquet that the royalty went to. lol. Ed's sister and my dad saw us on the live webcams. It was nice to meet other Americans. We went home with Mary from WesternGeco (originally from New Jersey). Her Norwegian husband and we shared champagne, wine and toasts to Obama and the courage of the Nobel Peace Prize committee. Mary was passionate about what a great thing this is. We stayed up till 2 am talking about peace, differences in cultures, and many other things.

This is the Grand Hotel balcony as it looked earlier in the day.

It was a day of inspiration.