It is a well established fact that what I find exciting is incredibly boring to many others, but there is no way any Okie could be in the Capitol building without being impressed.
First, it’s the Capitol. It’s our Capitol. It is a majestic old building and I am a sucker for old buildings.
Second, it just had a tremendous, expensive facelift, and boy, does it show! Clean as a whistle, fresh paint, nice carpet, the whole nine yards. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to come to that building every day to work. It would take me a year to get over the awe.
The offices are well appointed and laid out in an organized way. One doesn’t have to wander all around the place to find the appropriate office or legislator.
The walls were adorned with art of historically important moments and individuals in Black history of our state, in keeping with the recognition of Black History Month. Other hallways proudly displayed artwork of Oklahoma places, painters and photographers.
There is even an office of the official photographer. I never thought about the state having its own photographer. How cool is that?
It wasn’t all roses. I did get a little turned around trying to find my way into the building, because the front steps are still under construction, plumbing and landscaping. It had rained and snowed the night before and clodhopper that I am, I dragged red clay into the beautiful building and across its clean floors. I like to imagine it wasn’t the first time, and thought about those who came before me and probably had mud— and worse – on their shoes, people like Will Rogers and Toby Keith.
At the end of the day, when it was time to find my way back to where I parked, I was able to avoid the mud and actually made it out of the city without too much trouble.
I had been dreading going there, afraid of traffic and my peers, meeting with political leaders. But it was a great experience and one I will gladly repeat next time I get a chance. It’s a place every citizen should visit, even if it’s just to say you’ve been there. After all, we own it.