Senator Obama held an Ecomomic Town Hall Meeting at the Austin Convention Center in downtown Austin. Naturally, there were many more people than one would expect at a freakin' economic Town Hall that started at 9:30 am on a Thursday! Doors were at 7:30 am and by the time I showed up at 8:30 am, there was a substantial crowd.
I had a pretty decent seat. It was a "theater in the round" setting and I was in a section of seats to his far right, not on the floor but as close as I've ever been with a good view. I was a couple of steps up which enhanced my position.
There was a draped entrance for the Speakers and I planned to get a few good pictures when the Senator entered the room. I had an unobstructed view of the entrance--as long as everyone remained calm and stayed seated. Well, as soon as he entered, those thougthless dweebs rushed the floor and he disapperead behind a sea of people along with my great photo opportunities.
I could not believe that those people rushed down there! What about decorum?! What about poor me with my camera poised to take the picture of a lifetime?! If they had stayed seated, been polite, we all could have gotten nice photos...
At any rate, as the Town Hall meeting progressed, I started thinking that I would like to shake the Senator's hand! I'm not really sure why it became important to me but I was suddenly determined that it was my destiny. So, when Senator Obama said, "I have time for a couple of more questions", I got my things (camera) and joined those people on the floor. I got a spot right along the draped entrance.
Unfortunately, as the Senator finished speaking and started to leave, what seemed like the entire auditorium, lined up to get closer, including parents with ADORABLE babies. Also, because he had come in shaking hands on "my" side of the entryway, as he exited, to my semi-horror, he was circling in the other direction to shake hands with the supporters on the other side. However, instead of being defeated, I immediately thought, "I'm going to create my own reality. The Universe is going to give me what I'm asking today."
Despite the grim reality that he was on the other side shaking hands, with his back to me, I remained assured. Yet, when a woman handed him a fluffy pink baby, I knew that my chances were diminishing. There was a collective, "Awwww", when he sniggled that cute baby as the proud Papa snapped a picture. Other people on my side implored him to come back to our side. Secret Service and the Senator himself answered that because he had already been on our side, he was going to be fair, "I'm sorry, guys, I've already been over there." That simple exchange only spurred us on! Craziness! Even the supporters from the other side told us, "he's already been over there!" It was sad but fun! As he walked past me, getting awfully close to the door, I asked his assistant if he could please ask him to come back--of course, he only smiled at me with eyes that said, "You pathetic girl, you don't understand do you?".
Finally, I used my voice, "Senator, can I have a hand-shake, please. Senator, please, just a hand-shake." I can only imagine the big grin he saw on my face when he turned around, crossed the divide from the other side, over to "my" side, came back, and extended his left hand to me, while the right was stretched out to some other Barack-Star-Struck wacko--which is a term of endearment, by the way. So, that's a cross over and a walk back! Sure, I know he's done this before, there was a definite recognition of empathy in his eyes as he tried to reach us all, as Secret Service shielded him, but for me, it was a big deal! It was close to miraculous based on where he was and the number of people around! How did hear me? I wasn't yelling. I was very conscious of NOT being a nut.
I clasped his hand gratefully (you cannot officially shake a left hand, I don't believe.), thanked him brightly, and added, "God bless you! God bless you, Senator!" I believe that he heard that.
I had a pretty decent seat. It was a "theater in the round" setting and I was in a section of seats to his far right, not on the floor but as close as I've ever been with a good view. I was a couple of steps up which enhanced my position.
There was a draped entrance for the Speakers and I planned to get a few good pictures when the Senator entered the room. I had an unobstructed view of the entrance--as long as everyone remained calm and stayed seated. Well, as soon as he entered, those thougthless dweebs rushed the floor and he disapperead behind a sea of people along with my great photo opportunities.
I could not believe that those people rushed down there! What about decorum?! What about poor me with my camera poised to take the picture of a lifetime?! If they had stayed seated, been polite, we all could have gotten nice photos...
At any rate, as the Town Hall meeting progressed, I started thinking that I would like to shake the Senator's hand! I'm not really sure why it became important to me but I was suddenly determined that it was my destiny. So, when Senator Obama said, "I have time for a couple of more questions", I got my things (camera) and joined those people on the floor. I got a spot right along the draped entrance.
Unfortunately, as the Senator finished speaking and started to leave, what seemed like the entire auditorium, lined up to get closer, including parents with ADORABLE babies. Also, because he had come in shaking hands on "my" side of the entryway, as he exited, to my semi-horror, he was circling in the other direction to shake hands with the supporters on the other side. However, instead of being defeated, I immediately thought, "I'm going to create my own reality. The Universe is going to give me what I'm asking today."
Despite the grim reality that he was on the other side shaking hands, with his back to me, I remained assured. Yet, when a woman handed him a fluffy pink baby, I knew that my chances were diminishing. There was a collective, "Awwww", when he sniggled that cute baby as the proud Papa snapped a picture. Other people on my side implored him to come back to our side. Secret Service and the Senator himself answered that because he had already been on our side, he was going to be fair, "I'm sorry, guys, I've already been over there." That simple exchange only spurred us on! Craziness! Even the supporters from the other side told us, "he's already been over there!" It was sad but fun! As he walked past me, getting awfully close to the door, I asked his assistant if he could please ask him to come back--of course, he only smiled at me with eyes that said, "You pathetic girl, you don't understand do you?".
Finally, I used my voice, "Senator, can I have a hand-shake, please. Senator, please, just a hand-shake." I can only imagine the big grin he saw on my face when he turned around, crossed the divide from the other side, over to "my" side, came back, and extended his left hand to me, while the right was stretched out to some other Barack-Star-Struck wacko--which is a term of endearment, by the way. So, that's a cross over and a walk back! Sure, I know he's done this before, there was a definite recognition of empathy in his eyes as he tried to reach us all, as Secret Service shielded him, but for me, it was a big deal! It was close to miraculous based on where he was and the number of people around! How did hear me? I wasn't yelling. I was very conscious of NOT being a nut.
I clasped his hand gratefully (you cannot officially shake a left hand, I don't believe.), thanked him brightly, and added, "God bless you! God bless you, Senator!" I believe that he heard that.
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