(I will forgo the use of third person until the end of the post…)
On Friday, October 10, 1980 (yes, 1980) I was at the Tri-Cities Airport in Blountville, Tennessee around 7:00 am waiting to see President Jimmy Carter.
I had just turned 12 years old a few weeks prior and was so excited to see a President in person for the first time.
What made it even more exciting was that I was missing an entire day of school!
My Aunt Pat, Aunt Anne and Cousin Tracey and I traveled the 55 or so miles to the airport from our homes in East Stone Gap, Virginia to see the thirty-ninth President of the United States in person!
Imagine the excitement of a 12 year-old boy from the mountains of Southwest Virginia who barely had cable television, who was so uncomfortable in his skin growing up because he knew he was “different”, who was scared of his father, and tormented by his schoolmates.
Imagine being able to forget all my troubles for that few hours while I watched Air Force One land on a foggy runway and get to see the President in person.
I have never forgotten that day!
“Yes We Can!”
In 1996 I was very fortunate to see our forty-second President, Bill Clinton, on Saturday, August 25, 1996 in Ashland, Kentucky.
It was the day that I discovered that I was indeed going bald. We stood out in the hot August sun for hours waiting for his train to stop on this whistle-stop tour of the Ohio Valley. I wasn’t wearing a ball cap and made fun of a very bald friend for doing so. At the end of the day, my “bald” friend was all smiles, and I was miserably sunburned on top of my head!
Anyway, I digest.
I was able to see President Clinton on that day traveling in the same rail car that our thirty-third President, Harry S. Truman used when he ran for re-election (technically it was election, not re-election because he assumed the office in 1945 when FDR died) in 1948.
It was an equally memorable day.
“Yes We Can”
My first two experiences were separated by almost 16 years of time, heartache, successes, and challenges, but I remember both days fondly.
With all of this in mind, imagine my “memory maker” on overload getting to see President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton and President-elect Barack Obama over the course of four days!
Yes, all three!
On Wednesday, October 29, BetaMike and I went to the Osceola Heritage Park to see not just one, but two legends of America — President Bill Clinton, and President-elect Obama.
It was a memorable event, in more ways than you can imagine, number one of which was the long line we had to wait in just to make it into the park, but it was more than worth it to see these guys in person.
I don’t know what it is, but when President Clinton speaks, it feels like he is speaking directly to you. I am getting old because the “folksy” sayings he uses in his speeches I use in my everyday conversations. Weird.
And to get to see Senator Obama and listen to the crowd of a diverse group of folks — straight, homer-damn-sexual, black, white, Asian, Hispanic, old, very old, young cheer and all agree on what is right for America…. It is what I think America is all about.
Everyone was happy.
Everyone got along.
As the line wound its way around for a few hours we would pass restrooms and people would leave the line to go pee and their place would be waiting, and they would be welcomed back by the strangers holding their place in line.
It was what you would wish America could be like all the time.
I know, I am a grumpy old man and would get aggravated at all the “niceness” — but damn it was pleasant that night and I think I could go for it all the time!
“Yes We Can!”
On Saturday, November 1, BetaMike and I capped off the political season by eating at a Chinese buffet in Winter Park.
No.
First, we went to the Winter Park Community Center to see Senator Hillary Clinton. The center was full so we waited outside to listen to her speech on loudspeakers. Eventually, we were directed to a parking area where we could see the Senator arrive — and even though we “technically” didn’t get to see her give her speech in person, we were just on the other side if a brick wall listening, and it was well worth it.
Today, JohnnyBerry™ is a happy man.
As BetaMike said this morning at 1:00am as I was trying to fall asleep, “YES WE DID!”
And I told him to shut-up because my Ambien was kicking in.
So much for a “nicer” America.
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