If you believe it, he will come.
Tonight I managed to pull off a coup that even I didn't think was possible. But to explain this story I will need to back up to Sunday of this week, when I was still stinging from not having scored tickets to the debates and also not having gotten a VIP ticket to the rally.
I went to have a few drinks with some people, including Gingy, at the new Trudy's in South Austin. I was sitting at the bar, bemoaning the story of the VIP tickets, asking her how anyone could pass me up for VIP tickets when my license plates say "OBAMA" on them. She was listening sympathetically to the story when the bartender said "You know he's coming to Texas State on Wednesday." I kind of scoffed, saying that I wouldn't be able to get in anyway and he said "I can get you in."
Turns out the bartender, Courtney, is also the president of the Texas State Democrats and was coordinating the event. In other words, the man with the plan. He said that he could get me up close with a volunteer pass and that I'd have a good chance of getting to meet Obama. Naturally, I told him just to let me know when and where. The event hadn't been announced yet on Sunday, and he also asked me to keep quiet about it. He said that he only was telling me because he could tell how passionate I was about it from my ranting about all of the rallies and whatnot. So I haven't been able to mention it until now but I have been thinking about tonight all week!
Tonight after work I drove to San Marcos. The drive could not have been better and it only took me about forty minutes to get there and park (most of that was getting out of my neighborhood). I hopped on a shuttle from Bobcat Stadium which took me to the event grounds and deposited me at the end of the world's longest line. The line wrapped around a whole city block, if not more. Meanwhile, Courtney had told me if I didn't get there before 8:15 he might not be able to come out and get me.
So I asked him if I cut the line if he could come get me, and sure enough he did. I used his name like a password, telling anyone who tried to stop me that "Courtney told me to." Finally I made it to the main entry point, where Courtney appeared and gave me a volunteer pass and a Precinct Captain button.
Fired up, ready to go! My savior and Mean Rachel Man of the Year 2008, Courtney.
He then said that he would see me later, as he had some more slightly important things to do (like preparing to introduce the future president of the United States). I wandered towards the main bridge that you had to get across in order to get to the volunteer area and was then stopped by secret service.
It was there that I ran into Zach, whom I will admit to him and the world was the bane of my existence in high school. We called him "Creepy Guy" because, well, he was creepy. He wrote weird notes and signed them "Simple Simon" and stared at me all day. He turned out into less of a creep, and what was really comical to me was that he had absolutely no idea who I was, even after I told him my name. After about ten minutes of standing there with secret service, he finally turned to me and said "Did I buy you lunch in 9th grade without you knowing it?" When I said "YES," the lightbulb finally went off.
Eventually Secret Service let us cross over this small bridge that went to the inner circle of land that surrounded the stage (this was a really strange venue that had a small creek running through it so most people stayed on the other side of the creek).
The crowd on the other side of the water.
I sidled up to the railing and was feeling pretty good about where I was standing. I was actually in front of the token sign wavers who were seated in bleachers behind where Obama would speak.
How y'all doin' tonight?
I went to have a few drinks with some people, including Gingy, at the new Trudy's in South Austin. I was sitting at the bar, bemoaning the story of the VIP tickets, asking her how anyone could pass me up for VIP tickets when my license plates say "OBAMA" on them. She was listening sympathetically to the story when the bartender said "You know he's coming to Texas State on Wednesday." I kind of scoffed, saying that I wouldn't be able to get in anyway and he said "I can get you in."
Turns out the bartender, Courtney, is also the president of the Texas State Democrats and was coordinating the event. In other words, the man with the plan. He said that he could get me up close with a volunteer pass and that I'd have a good chance of getting to meet Obama. Naturally, I told him just to let me know when and where. The event hadn't been announced yet on Sunday, and he also asked me to keep quiet about it. He said that he only was telling me because he could tell how passionate I was about it from my ranting about all of the rallies and whatnot. So I haven't been able to mention it until now but I have been thinking about tonight all week!
Tonight after work I drove to San Marcos. The drive could not have been better and it only took me about forty minutes to get there and park (most of that was getting out of my neighborhood). I hopped on a shuttle from Bobcat Stadium which took me to the event grounds and deposited me at the end of the world's longest line. The line wrapped around a whole city block, if not more. Meanwhile, Courtney had told me if I didn't get there before 8:15 he might not be able to come out and get me.
So I asked him if I cut the line if he could come get me, and sure enough he did. I used his name like a password, telling anyone who tried to stop me that "Courtney told me to." Finally I made it to the main entry point, where Courtney appeared and gave me a volunteer pass and a Precinct Captain button.
Fired up, ready to go! My savior and Mean Rachel Man of the Year 2008, Courtney.He then said that he would see me later, as he had some more slightly important things to do (like preparing to introduce the future president of the United States). I wandered towards the main bridge that you had to get across in order to get to the volunteer area and was then stopped by secret service.
It was there that I ran into Zach, whom I will admit to him and the world was the bane of my existence in high school. We called him "Creepy Guy" because, well, he was creepy. He wrote weird notes and signed them "Simple Simon" and stared at me all day. He turned out into less of a creep, and what was really comical to me was that he had absolutely no idea who I was, even after I told him my name. After about ten minutes of standing there with secret service, he finally turned to me and said "Did I buy you lunch in 9th grade without you knowing it?" When I said "YES," the lightbulb finally went off.
Eventually Secret Service let us cross over this small bridge that went to the inner circle of land that surrounded the stage (this was a really strange venue that had a small creek running through it so most people stayed on the other side of the creek).
The crowd on the other side of the water.I sidled up to the railing and was feeling pretty good about where I was standing. I was actually in front of the token sign wavers who were seated in bleachers behind where Obama would speak.
How y'all doin' tonight?Then they came and told the volunteers that we couldn't stand along the railing and that we needed to move. They herded us back toward the masses, which were directly in front of the stage. This was close. I should have been happy to be that close and just taken it all in, but I had come to San Marcos for a handshake. It quickly became apparent that action had to be taken. I decided I needed to get to the opposite side from where I was standing, so that I could get up against the rail where no one was being made to move. This meant I had to make my way through throngs of people, already packed tightly together.
Well it's funny what wearing a black trenchcoat, looking official yet friendly, and saying "Excuse me, I'm sorry, excuse me, I'm sorry" over and over and over again can do. The waters parted. It took me about fifteen minutes to make my way around, and I stepped on a lot of toes, but I finally got over to the opposite side. But I still wasn't near the railing. I noticed there was extra space on the opposite side of the railing that separated the crowd from the media, so I hid my volunteer badge under my lapel and climbed over. Just like getting on a horse. People were quite helpful, I guess because I looked like I knew what I was doing.
Press.
I got into another little pen, and made my way to a small gap on the railing. This would be my spot for the next hour. Courtney came over at that point and said "You are the luckiest girl!" and I said "Why?" and he said "You're in the VIP section, these are all local elected officials." Sure enough, I was jammed up against the incumbent Hayes Democratic party chair. But I figure that's what a local celebrity like myself is due.
Damon Winter, a notable photographer there taking pictures for NYT.
Taken with my crappy camera phone. Irony!
Well it's funny what wearing a black trenchcoat, looking official yet friendly, and saying "Excuse me, I'm sorry, excuse me, I'm sorry" over and over and over again can do. The waters parted. It took me about fifteen minutes to make my way around, and I stepped on a lot of toes, but I finally got over to the opposite side. But I still wasn't near the railing. I noticed there was extra space on the opposite side of the railing that separated the crowd from the media, so I hid my volunteer badge under my lapel and climbed over. Just like getting on a horse. People were quite helpful, I guess because I looked like I knew what I was doing.
Press.I got into another little pen, and made my way to a small gap on the railing. This would be my spot for the next hour. Courtney came over at that point and said "You are the luckiest girl!" and I said "Why?" and he said "You're in the VIP section, these are all local elected officials." Sure enough, I was jammed up against the incumbent Hayes Democratic party chair. But I figure that's what a local celebrity like myself is due.
Damon Winter, a notable photographer there taking pictures for NYT.Taken with my crappy camera phone. Irony!
Finally several Secret Service people started showing up, and it seemed like it was definitely getting closer to when Obama would speak. I noticed that the SS doesn't wear matching shirts & ties, which made me wonder if that is on purpose so they can identify each other or if it is just not a policy that they have to wear the same uniform clothes. I think there must be some method behind the madness.
Standing by! Obama came through that gate in the background where the little man is standing.
Standing by! Obama came through that gate in the background where the little man is standing.Courtney finally got to go out on stage and I cheered my lungs off for him. I even had the nice lady next to me cheering for Trudy's! He announced Patrick Lyndon Nugent, who is President LBJ's oldest grandson. Nugent gave a speech supporting Barack Obama and then very quickly announced "Here he is!"
Obama, far left, appearing from the shadows (and the road coach in the background)
thisclose!
Obama, far left, appearing from the shadows (and the road coach in the background)
thisclose!Obama came out looking confident and as fresh as ever. He gave yet another stirring speech, very similar to the one he gave at the Austin rally. However, I did notice he spent a lot more time talking about McCain and didn't even mention Hillary once, as far as I heard. He didn't even say her name with regards to the debate last night -- he actually turned it around on McCain, saying "Here's some news for you!" I guess Team Obama knows this is in the bag now and has moved on to bigger foes.
Obama and Nugent. I love all the camera flashes going off in this picture.
It was an sublime experience to be immersed with so many young people. The energy of the crowd was electric and there was a girl behind me who occasionally made me crack up with her encouragement of Obama. "You ain't never lied to us, Barack!" was one I liked. There was a definite spirit in the crowd.
At the end, he departed the stage and started shaking hands, beginning with the people on the other side where I had originally been standing. I then asked one of the photographers in the media to take a picture of me if he could when Obama came around to shake hands. He said he would try and that he'd email me what he got.
Obama shakin' hands and kissin' babies.
Obama and Nugent. I love all the camera flashes going off in this picture.At the end, he departed the stage and started shaking hands, beginning with the people on the other side where I had originally been standing. I then asked one of the photographers in the media to take a picture of me if he could when Obama came around to shake hands. He said he would try and that he'd email me what he got.
Obama shakin' hands and kissin' babies.Finally he made his way around to our side. Secret Service man #1 passed by my hand, then #2, then #3. Suddenly, there was Barack Obama, standing directly in front of me, smiling, and shaking my hand. It occurred to me only later that I never thought about what I would say if I had the opportunity to shake his hand, but this is what came out of my mouth:
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much."
And he just kept smiling and saying "You're welcome, thank you for your support." I don't know if time stood still or if I just kept a hold of his hand, but it seemed like a long handshake. His face is now burned into my mind, this amber glow of a human. Barack Obama suddenly became something I had seen and actually felt. That's a sort of humanity that you can never know until it's suddenly found.
I meant what I said -- I'm glad I had a chance to thank him. I thank him for his promise of peace and his passion for justice. I thank him for his efforts and what he has become for so many -- a sliver of hope in an otherwise destroyed world; a soft amber glow in the final embers of a failed system; a reminder that our country was founded on hopes and dreams and that in the end, it will be this same audacity that brings us out of the ashes and into the sun.
"Renegade" Leaving the Building
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much."
And he just kept smiling and saying "You're welcome, thank you for your support." I don't know if time stood still or if I just kept a hold of his hand, but it seemed like a long handshake. His face is now burned into my mind, this amber glow of a human. Barack Obama suddenly became something I had seen and actually felt. That's a sort of humanity that you can never know until it's suddenly found.
I meant what I said -- I'm glad I had a chance to thank him. I thank him for his promise of peace and his passion for justice. I thank him for his efforts and what he has become for so many -- a sliver of hope in an otherwise destroyed world; a soft amber glow in the final embers of a failed system; a reminder that our country was founded on hopes and dreams and that in the end, it will be this same audacity that brings us out of the ashes and into the sun.
"Renegade" Leaving the Building
Labels:
Barack Obama,
Obama 2008,
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Exciting times, moving crescendo, all-in-all an A-side entry. But don't you think there's a chance Courtney was looking for a little politically sympathetic action? :)
i am so happy for you-and glad you weren't tackled and 86'ed by the secret service. your passion is contagious! i almost, almost just decided to vote for obama over clinton. almost. xo
Courtney really deserves a plaque "Mean Rachel Man of the Year [if you don't count Obama]". Excellent entry. I will be casting my Obama vote on March 4 here in RI where the primary is also happening. Even my art prof's 93year old mother is on the fence!
Mean Rachel's Blogs....Just Words?
Fantastic! The real question is: How easy was it getting back to your car?
That rocks!
Wow, you are my hero!
Melanie
I think you said the perfect thing to him. I was at the Austin rally, about 15 feet or so from where he spoke, and the energy was spectacular. America needs hope, and he gives it.