Reaping the Benefits

The Saturday following Halloween, the Saturday before Nov. 4th elections, I had the privilege of attending Barack Obama's rally in Henderson, which is just Southeast of Las Vegas. I was given VIP treatment from...well anyone who knows me would know who got me the VIP treatment. It was so great! Thankfully our friends, the McMillan's were willing to watch the kids for me, so after the Trunk-or-Treat Friday night, I put them down at their house and then went home to prepare for an early morning. I had to leave at 6:30am to be there at the right time for my escort. When I arrived at 7 there was already a long line of cars waiting to get into parking for a shuttle. They were expecting upwards of around 18,000 people. I followed 

directions given to me on how to get in through the back entrance and was met by metro police as well as Secret Service. It's funny how normal they seem to me now. I told Bill later that I have never felt so scrutinized in all my life. I gave them my name and they "checked the list" and allowed me to pass. As I drove up the back road every security/medical personnel was staring at me. I felt very out of place but in another way, very deserving of being there. (I've sacrificed a lot for a chance at opportunities like this.) I parked the car and started walking toward the football field where the rally was to take place. I didn't call my "escort" in time and was stopped by two other special agents who proceeded to interrogate me. I was able to get a hold of my contact and was led inside the arena. I was able to sit down on the bleachers directly behind the podium with instructions to move to a small "roped" off area before the speech started so that I could be on the "front rope line". (I don't know why it's called "rope" when it's actually referred to as "bike

 rack", by those in the know, and looks much more like the latter.) It was really fun to be there hearing everyone talk about the candidate and the Secret Service that was swarming the area. One of the agents (a friend) was standing post inside the staged area and came over and spoke with me several times. My escort did not. He did however escort me to the restroom when I could no longer hold it. As could be expected there was ample amounts of enthusiasm and chants were going throughout the morning. I learned that some of the spectators had started arriving as early as 2am that morning! With toddlers! There was concern for the kids that were right up front because inevitably as the man of the hour does his hand shakes, the entire crowd presses forward and people can become badly smashed. I had been waiting 1 1/2 hrs and the event was to start in 1 more hour so I decided to take my place on the rope line so as not to be left without room. The VIP section was triangular in shape and allowed 8 or so people across the front with maybe 5 back at the deepest vertex. I'd say there were 15-20 people in the section. We were just off to the left, behind the stage, if you were to look head on.  The young man that led the pledge of allegiance was only in the 8th grade and when he came back down off the stage, said, "That was the coolest thing I've ever done!" He joined the VIP section. Senator Harry Reed spoke and upon leaving the stage, positioned himself just in front of me to my right, and signed and gave his speech to a little girl who had joined up with our group. When 

 President Elect Obama came out the crowd went wild. One side of the bleachers was completely filled as well as the entire football field of standing room only. I never cheered but neither did any of the others directly around me. Talk about a great view. It was very easy to forget that the rest of the crowd was there because Obama was so close to us. It was really funny too of 

where I happened to be standing. Because I was directly to the left of Senator Reed, every time Obama looked at him, it appeared as if he were looking at me. The kid that had given the pledge must have thought the same and actually believed it because at one point he exclaimed, "He did it! He just looked right at me! (I laughed at his enthusiasm.) After the speech, just as promised 

Obama came right to our section and I was able to shake his hand. I was wondering how fake it would be, would he be sticking his hands out and letting people paw at him? He actually took my hand and made eye contact with me and every other person whose hand he shook. I will admit, I was impressed.

Did the experience change my voting??? That's not important. What is important is that I can honestly say that this election year, for the first time, I actually did my homework on the candidates and voted for who I thought would do the best for our country all around, not for who my party was backing. Beyond that, now we have our new President, whom I have shaken hands with (even if it was a lefty grip), and I pray that he will be the honest man that this country needs.

Oh yeah, the picture at the top; Bill found it on Obama's website, that's MY HEAD in the bottom left hand corner. And that's the "lefty grip" with my right hand! So at the very moment when that photo was taken, the future President of the United States was looking into the eyes of Rachel Ellison(or there about)! Finally some benefits to this crazy way of life!