There are events that I cannot do alone, although I LOVE a quiet peaceful house, with the just the occasional yowl from the Siamese.  Being Canadian, the inauguration wasn't one of them, but I appreciate that for you it was. Obviously the tragic unfolding of 9/11 could not be experienced alone. We huddled in boardrooms at work, and at home the children and I snuggled on the couch and tried to make sense of it all. On a more upbeat-ish note, I cannot do Remembrance Day alone. I have tried to just sit and listen to the radio, but have discovered that I really need to attend the service in person, even if I am simply surrounded by complete strangers.