So when I got up this morning, my oldest was still sick. Vomiting, fever returned, etc. My prospects were looking pretty grim. I took care of him and then hopped into the shower, hoping that things would improve, but I knew deep down there was *no way* I was going to get to go. I thought about taking him with me but knew that it was a bad idea and it wasn’t really fair to him when he feels so bad. So I resigned myself to staying home and hearing about it all later. Then the phone rang. It’s my husband, calling to tell me that a couple of people he works with have had the same virus and it seems to run it’s course in about 48 hours. Great, but as we’re only in hour 24 here, not very helpful for the issue I’m dealing with at the moment. And of course I’m feeling guilty and selfish for even being upset about not going. Nothing beats mommy guilt.

So I launch into complaining mode. As I said yesterday, I could medal in complaining if only they’d make it an Olympic sport. My fabulous husband took pity on me and said he’d come home around 9AM so I could go. Really, I don’t know what I did to deserve this guy. He’d been at work since 6AM this morning and I guess he was planning to leave early this afternoon…so he just switched things around. Anyway, I rush around, carefully picking clothes (it was very chilly this morning!), trying to fix my hair that dried into a disgusting mess while I was on the phone with him, and getting makeup on. All this while trying to convince the oldest to take some medicine to make him feel better and get breakfast for both of the kids.

He pulled into the driveway a bit after 9 and I ran out the door. We live less than 10 minutes away from the site where he was speaking, so it didn’t take me long to get there. Parking was a mess, but they did have people directing traffic so it wasn’t too bad. I walked over to the site and got into a very long line. I struck up a conversation with the people around. One guy said he couldn’t vote for Obama because of his religion. Pardon the expression, but WTF? And I said something about the fact that he’s a Christian, just like every other president we’ve ever had. No, this guy is sure he’s a Muslim. Good grief…are people still buying into THAT load of hooey? Don’t believe everything you get via email, people! (Not that I think being non-Christian should keep you from being President, of course.)

The line finally started moving and we moved into the area where the crowd would be standing to watch. I was at the very back, behind a really tall guy and I knew it was going to be hard for me to see. We stood around for a while longer and finally 2 young women get up on the flatbed and start to talk. They did a cheerleader style routine that was a little lame but people did seem to get into it. Or tried anyway. Then they tell everybody to get out their cell phones and text something to a number. I don’t really know how to text, so I kind of ignored that…then they said they were going to pick 3 of the people who texted to meet and have photos with him after the speech. Cool, I guess I can figure out how to text real quick, right??? So then they start calling the 3 people. First person is a young guy who appeared to be in high school. Next was a young girl who also appeared to be in high school. I’m standing there waiting for them to say they were calling the 3rd person and all of a sudden MY PHONE STARTED RINGING.

The number is not one I recognize and I didn’t think they were calling #3 yet, so I just kind of stood there for a second…and then realized that they WERE calling #3 and OH.MY.GOSH. it was ME! I was *so* excited. I’ve liked Bill Clinton for years and this is a major dream come true for me! They moved the 3 of us into a separate area up close where we can see and take pics. I assumed at the end that he would come speak with us, sign autographs, take pictures, etc. That’s the impression I was given, anyway. More waiting.

He finally arrived an hour+ late (which I understand…I figured this would be the case!) and came up to give his speech. He started off with some funny stuff, then moved onto the real reason for the visit: campaigning for Hillary. His speech was good, I thought. She has some good thoughts, good ideas. (Of course we all know that campaign promises that actually come to fruition are few and far between, so I won’t hold my breath for any of these fabulous ideas to make it past the campaign promise stage.) He touched on a lot of things that have affected me and my husband and kids personally…outsourcing/job loss, health care woes, our messed up education system. I like that they want to scrap NCLB completely. He talked about the hope for repealing the gas tax this summer and how that money would be made up (subsidized by oil companies) and though I had been against that plan before, I now think it may be a viable idea if the money will be paid to the government via other channels. I gained more insight into her campaign than I had before, and that’s good. I like to be an informed voter so if she gains the nomination I feel more at ease with casting my vote for her.

And then the speech was over and he starts coming down the line of people in the front, shaking hands, taking items to autograph, etc. We’re at the opposite end from where he started and I’m trying to conserve camera battery (all I had was my point and shoot…now I wish I’d taken my SLR even though it doesn’t do video!) so when he gets to us and does pictures, I can get some. I decided to hold onto my paper and pen, thinking we’ll actually get a little time with him when he can sign something. Except he didn’t do more than shake our hands. I got no autograph, no photo with him, no chance to say anything other than “Thank you.” Disappointed does not even begin to describe how I feel about this. After he shook our hands, he went over to his car and signed all of the things he was given and we waited, thinking he’d come back to us…nope. When he was done signing, he hopped in the car and left. I didn’t expect a 30 minute convo with him or anything, but I really wanted a photo with him and an autograph.

So I’m glad I got to go, but disappointed in the handling of that situation. Maybe I misunderstood, but I feel like I got screwed out of a really cool experience. I did get some great pictures and a short video clip. No autograph and no photo with him, but I did shake his hand and that alone is a big thing for me.

Pics and a little video clip below. If you’d like to use these photos for anything, please email me for permission (themama at iamthemama dot com) and I’ll send you a full size image.