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I went to the rally yesterday in Greensburg and I just have to share it with all of you. I took my 11 year old son, Mikey and my brother-in-law and a friend of the family. When we finally got in after the metal detectors, we walked over to the side of the audience to some empty bleachers. A volunteer told us they were reserved so we just decided to stand near them. A few minutes later someone said that there were going to be photographs taken of the bleachers and that they'd like the crowd to fill them in but they couldn't stay there because it was reserved seating. Well, my son just ran right over and the crowd kind of rushed to fill them in. After the photos, they just let everyone stay there and my son just got stuck up there. I had to make my way up to stand next to him and separate from the other 2 we'd come with. Well, low and behold it turned out to be better for us because that is 5 feet from where the Kerry bus pulled in. (Next to the bleachers was a security fence and then the road on the other side by the restaraunt.)
Well, needless to say the rally itself was GREAT! My son enjoyed it so much. After the rally, we noticed that Ed Rendell was making his way up beside the fence. My son asked if he could jump down by the fence to shake his hand and I told him certainly. We both jumped down there and Ed gave my son a big high five. Next, Ben Affleck came by. Of course there were some girls jumping down squashing us a bit to get a glimpse of him, but he took the time to talk to Mikey and me. The girls were just freaking out saying how 'hot' he was and all. I told him that I was just glad he was on our side. He told Mikey and me that he was glad we were on their side, too. He asked Mikey if he likes JK. Mikey said he did. (He was kind of star-struck and couldn't say too much.) I told Ben he'd be surprised how much this 11 year old knows about the issues. Ben asked him what issue was most important to him. Normally, my son is able to rant and rave about things going on, but he could only muster, "All of them." Ben laughed and continued on. Next, we met Kerry's daughter and she was so sincere in telling us all that they really appreciated all of us staying out in all the rain to spend the afternoon with them. She said that is why they're doing this, for all of us.
Then, lo and behold right in front of me is Elizabeth Edwards! Now, I was a bit star-struck. I waited until the people around me calmed down a bit and I told her that we are working very hard to ensure they get into the WH and that we're going to continue working hard. She reached out and took MY hand and thanked me and talked to us about the fact that they really do care about our country and the direction it's been headed for. I told her that I've been concerned for 4 years and she said she has, too. She just held on to my hand and talked to me for a few minutes and thanked Mikey for being on their side. She asked him if he liked the rally and he just said yes. She said to me, "I promise we will do everything we can to give you back your government." I told her I know that they will and that I sincerely appreciate it. She thanked us for coming and said it got so stormy that she was afraid no one would show up but instead everyone just stood strong in the rain and all. She told me that they really appreciate that and that is what motivates them. She said it gets tiring but times like these make it worth it. I thanked her again and told her that the next time I'll see her is at the innagguration and she said she will see us there. She winked at Mikey and continued on.
I cannot stress this enough. These people did NOT act like any politicians I've ever met before. It was honestly like talking to a neighbor or a friend. The whole time we talked she was holding my hand like she knew me and talking to me like we were old friends. As silly as this sounds, I slept like a baby last night for the first time in years, just knowing that her promise was real. :)
Anyway, then Theresa's one son (the one with the light colored shirt on yesterday) came over and my son had a thought. He said excuse me and asked him if he could get "his dads" to sign one of our signs for his grandmother who wanted to come but couldn't make it because she was sick yesterday. He tried but said he couldn't get into the back of the tour bus because JK and JE were already 'locked in' in the back of the bus. He said he was really sorry but that he would be sure to tell them about meeting us. Mikey told him thanks and said that if he was old enough he would vote for them. He thanked us and talked to me for a couple minutes about the weather and how they were really afraid no one would be there. I said we sure fooled you, huh? He laughed and said we sure did. He said that they're all pretty beat and tired but that stuff like that just motivates all of them to keep going. Mikey told him that he saw JK waving at him earlier and to tell him that he was glad he's going to be our next president because we can't take 4 more years of the * administration. He laughed a hearty laugh and told him he would be absolutely certain to tell them all about meeting him. He thanked us again and told us that he was so sorry he couldn't get back in to get a signature for us. Mikey told him that was ok. He patted him on the head and told us it was nice meeting us and off he went into the restaraunt.
We ended up in just the right area (except that JK and JE and Theresa ended up getting on their bus without walking 5 more feet to where we were so we didn't get to meet them) but it just seemed like the stopping point was right in front of us. Everyone who did walk by stopped and talked to us for a long time.
Here is the BEST part! When we finally got out of there and we were walking back to our car, Mikey thanked me for taking him. I put my arm around him and thanked him for coming with me and I said, "Now, I want you to make me a promise." He said, "Sure, what?" I said that from this day forward, he can NEVER EVER become complacent about politics. I said to PLEASE promise me that for the rest of his live he will ALWAYS stay involved and on top of the issues so we will never have another fiasco like the year 2000 and these 4 years that have followed. He not only promised me that, he also added that he is going to get a law degree and become an attorney to gain experience and from there he will go on to be a senator and one day he will be our next president because he knows that like John Kerry and John Edwards, he too can change the world for the better.
My heart just swelled with pride and the knowledge that I have really done what's right where he's concerned. I am so glad I took him and gave him such a wonderful opportunity. It instilled in him the importance of government and the importance of always searching for the truth.
Plus, I got to meet Elizabeth! Woooooo-hoooooo!
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