06/25: Meeting JRE for the First Time
It was a year ago that I met some great people (and some who felt we could not be friends sometime later), and we went to meet JRE at a special gathering before some events at the Iowa Democratic Convention last year. Tensions were so high because all of us wanted JRE on the VP ticket.
Rather than going into a lot of detail, I think I will try to describe what I felt and thought at the moment he came out of the elevator into an office suite of many supporters and trial lawyers.
I remember I felt being caught off guard, even though we were waiting for him close by. I think we expected him a little later as he was only a few minutes behind schedule. The second reaction was one of joy and laughter when he went over to meet a supporter who was in our group. Her face was though she was meeting Paul McCartney in 1963; shocked and almost fainted. He said, "hello, I'm John Edwards." She retorted, "is that really you?"
It was about 10 minutes later that I was introduced to him by another in our group as one of OAC blog co-moderators. He said "Bless you." Then he and one of my friends got our picture taken with him.
I regret that I don't know where those pictures are. I wish I had the one with Jackie, JRE and me as it was a good picture, and I cherish her friendship very much today.
Anyway, I remember calling my mom because I believe I was also still in state of shock, feeling in a way like a groupie, yet proud to meet this star on our horizon. Later, I told someone that it was difficult for me to say much because I was so struck by his immediate connection with people and his candor. My husband says playfully that my meeting JRE was a life event for me, as I am now more than ever more observant of what our government does. Most of all, it was more of a spiritual experience.
Today I still feel the same way about him. He is a man of the people, and our messenger of hope and goodness.
Photo September 2004, in Bloomington, IL (second time to meet him) copyright RAS
Rather than going into a lot of detail, I think I will try to describe what I felt and thought at the moment he came out of the elevator into an office suite of many supporters and trial lawyers.
I remember I felt being caught off guard, even though we were waiting for him close by. I think we expected him a little later as he was only a few minutes behind schedule. The second reaction was one of joy and laughter when he went over to meet a supporter who was in our group. Her face was though she was meeting Paul McCartney in 1963; shocked and almost fainted. He said, "hello, I'm John Edwards." She retorted, "is that really you?"
It was about 10 minutes later that I was introduced to him by another in our group as one of OAC blog co-moderators. He said "Bless you." Then he and one of my friends got our picture taken with him.
I regret that I don't know where those pictures are. I wish I had the one with Jackie, JRE and me as it was a good picture, and I cherish her friendship very much today.
Anyway, I remember calling my mom because I believe I was also still in state of shock, feeling in a way like a groupie, yet proud to meet this star on our horizon. Later, I told someone that it was difficult for me to say much because I was so struck by his immediate connection with people and his candor. My husband says playfully that my meeting JRE was a life event for me, as I am now more than ever more observant of what our government does. Most of all, it was more of a spiritual experience.
Today I still feel the same way about him. He is a man of the people, and our messenger of hope and goodness.
Photo September 2004, in Bloomington, IL (second time to meet him) copyright RAS
posted by benny06 at
Saturday, June 25, 2005
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