John LeFabre, an active member of the Spotsylvania Democratic Committee, sent us this copy of an email he received from a fellow Spotsy Dem. I got a kick out of it, and I think you will too.
Yesterday Judi and Chris and I went to the Obama event at the Nissan Pavilion. After we passed through security (at ~3.15 in the afternoon), an Obama worker came and offered us the opportunity to be behind Obama on the stage while he spoke. We jumped at the opportunity, got our orange wrist bands to identify us as stage folks, and went to our "holding area" where we were free to make cell phone calls to tell friends and family to watch for us on TV, relax, drink liquids, come and go, and hang out. We think we might have been among the "chosen" because both Judi and I are both 60 and look like we might have been in Hillary's demographic (though I've been for Obama ever since he spoke at the convention!) the stage-standers included men and women, boys and girls, black and white (and I can't recall if there were folks who looked like they came from other cultures?) from ~age 10 to age 70.At 4.30 we were enthusiastically encouraged to go to the bathroom---"whether you need to go or not." and at 5.00 we were given Obama buttons (or Obama wrist bands) and taken to the stage where we learned that we'd be standing on risers for the next 2 hours. (oh my!) we were given "change we can believe in" signs, some of us got flags, and a few of us got other hand-painted posters to wave. Mine said "YES WE CAN" on one side and "VIRGINIANS 4 CHANGE" on the other.
Shortly thereafter a lovely hispanic family (the dad is an elected official but i'm not sure who he was) led the assembled gathering in the pledge followed shortly by Gov. Kaine. He's a really good speaker and he has such genuine laugh lines that you warm to him immediately! He spoke about being one of the first folks to recognize Obama's greatness by endorsing him. After a lull in the program Obama and Senator Webb came out---shaking hands w/ some of our group before heading to center stage. Webb gave a much too long introduction (which he read) and then Obama came on. Obama seemed to have a list of talking points but no printed speech. He spoke very warmly about Kaine and also had nice things to say about Webb---especially Webb's GI bill---before going into what is probably his stump speech. All 3 men also said kind things about Clinton (and the crowd applauded each time). I hope to go back and listen to at least some of the speech on tv today because it was hard to hear every little thing in the midst of the crowd noise.After the speeches Obama worked the rope line (of mostly younger folks who had green wrist bands because they had probably been selected to stand in "the pit"---the area of the audience just in front of the podium). for those of us on the stage it was WONDERFUL to see how attentive and enthusiastic all those folks in the pit were all during the speech.
After the rope line Obama came back onstage and shook hands w/ more of us (including Judi, Chris, and me---and when I shook his hand I had the chance to say, "God bless you!" and yes, I have washed my hands since then. ha.)
Last night after returning home I flashed through the news that Bob had tivo'd and found a quick shot of my face, several shots of my poster, and several hints of my hot pink shirt, but I doubt I'll get any calls to be a Hollywood star based on my stage appearance yesterday. I was exhausted but so thrilled to be included in this way in Obama's rally in Virginia. My body is still tired this morning, but my spirits are soaring!
No matter what your politics I thought you might be interested in this little tale of June 5, 2008 in Bristow, Virginia.
blessings,
Anne