Forward
There is so much to write about, but for now, I think I’ll write about how I was a part of history today when I got to see President Barack Obama speak at Ohio University, my alma mater and employer. Obama was the eleventh sitting president to visit campus and the first since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, more than 48 years ago!
And just yesterday I got to see our President debate with Republican candidate Mitt Romney on live television. How nice of him to then bring the show to Athens, no??
I took the afternoon off for the occasion and was in good company. My aunts Shel and Patti and my momma had lunch with me (there was pina colada) before we decided to get in line. The line was longer than I would have ever dreamt it would be. For those of you that might know campus, it started at the famous intersection of Court and Union Streets and snaked its way down the hill all the way to the Ping Center and beyond! Â CRAZY!
Once we got moving, things were good. And we cleared Secret Service security with flying colors.
The place was packed, energy was high. Our first location was not so hot. We took turns holding cameras up to try to figure out just where on that wooded green was the podium. We finally ditched that location to find a better one, where I could actually see the President with my naked eye. My camera is not so good, and we weren’t close, so the photo below might be the best actual representation I have as to what I actually saw!
President Obama did not disappoint. We talked change and binders of women and coal and all kinds of other important things. I am so glad I got to see him, though I’m still jealous of my friends who met with him ahead of time and shook his hand! (!!!!)
We were the paparazzi. I love this Charlie’s Angel-esque photo of us. We are standing on unused metal fencing. Not the safest of stages, but a welcome vantage point!
Thanks so much for coming to Athens, President Obama. Come back any old time!!!
What an awesome experience! Love your story and your pictures!
So happy for you!! Glad you enjoyed it, a story you will get to shared with your grandchildren one day!!!
Looks like a good time! I’m glad you got to share it with your mom…..and I’m glad Kim and I got to find out what POTUS means! Let’s rock, Barack!!!
Johnny and I got to see John Edwards at the Marietta Armory back in 2004 during he and John Kerry’s campaign. It was exciting, but not nearly as exciting as this, of course!
It was an awesome experience. The air was full of electric excitement! We were part of history, along with an estimated 18,000! It was well worth the 3 hour wait in line. Would have helped to be taller, alot taller. President Obama’s speech was inspiring and really reved up the crowd. I’m proud to be an American. So glad to have gotten to experience it with some special women in my life. Go OBAMA, 4 more years!!