The Wednesday Kaleidoscope

[TygrBright]

Shout-Outs:

The kind, KIND Denverite (and Wisconsin expat) who overtook me walking to Pepsi Center and gave me a squirt of sunblock, thus averting sunburn of skin-cancer levels.

The blogger from HispanicTips.com who sat opposite me in the Blogger's Dungeon and provided the mot juste to describe the physical condition we all suffer from by the end of a long day: "Blogger's Butt."

And most of all, our very own DUer Librechik, who gave me a terrific thrill by coming into the Blogger's Dungeon to greet me and got me a chance to almost make a drooling fangirl out of myself meeting Gwen Ifill. She's on the Denver staff of the News Hour and brought me backstage on the offchance that Ms Ifill might have a moment to be gushed over, but it didn't work out. But I got a good view of the back of Ms Ifill's head from about ten feet away. My second-best Celeb Encounter of the day!

Democrats of the Day:

These gals, who were carrying their banner and informational materials through the downtown area, raising awareness of why moms have to vote for Obama.


This delegate, who took a few minutes from her busy schedule to explain to me and other media representatives why doctors have to vote for Obama.


This delegate, rear view:


Can you guess what's on the front view?

Yep. Russ Feingold. And yes, the delegate is from Wisconsin.

Celebrity Encounters:

There were a lot of near-encounters, including the above-mentioned Gwen Ifill sighting. A bunch of guys in armored vests and suchlike shoved me aside firmly but politely: "Over here, Ma'am. Right over here. Stay there."

And right in the middle of them was Hillary Clinton, moving fast. I didn't really see her until she was past, but she was less than ten feet from me!

Likewise with Dr. Dean. I was down in the Press area and he and others walked right past me before I realized who it was. I turned to look as he walked away, stunned: "That's Dr. Dean!" One of the guys with him heard me and grinned over his shoulder at me.

Finally I had a REAL celebrity encounter with one of the celebs on my personal "A list." I ducked out to go to the bathroom during Joe Biden's speech and this guy I recognized instantly was standing out by the elevators and bathrooms with a staffer. I recognized him because he was one of the shortest guys ever to hold a cabinet post in the Clinton white house: Yep, it was Clinton' Secretary of the Treasury!

I did a total double-take when I saw him, which seemed to amuse him. I morphed instantly into a gushing fangirl: "Doctor Rubin, I'm a huge fan!"

The man is a prince, a complete prince. He smiled warmly. "Thank you so much."

"I really hope that they invite you to take a very important post in the new Cabinet, sir. And..."

His smile turned a little wry and he gestured me to stop, and to lean in close. He half-whispered to me: "I hope they don't."

I nodded. "I was going to say, 'And I hope you'll ignore all considerations of common sense and self-preservation and take it, for all our sakes.'"

He laughed. "I did that once already."

Someone else came out of the bathroom then and had a question for him, and I took my turn in the bathroom. When I came out he was in conversation and I legged it back to grab my camera, just on the offchance.

I told you he was a prince-- he was still there, just him and the staffer, and the staffer offered to take my picture with him. It's one of the worst pics ever taken of me (and that's saying something) but I'll treasure it anyway:


AND I got a chance to shake Madeleine Albright's hand on the way out, and tell her I read her book and thank her for her service to America.

But the most significant encounter of the day didn't involve a celebrity, and I think it will probably stay with me at least as long as the Rubin encounter, if not longer.

I was just arriving at the Pepsi Center, and in front of me was a tall, lanky, crew-cut youngster of thirty or so, wearing the armband of a Congressional staffer. He was pushing a wheelchair, and in the wheelchair was an older black woman with a delegate ID. I held the door for him, and when they got into the hall they were chatting. She said something about "Your boss," and he nodded and said "Yes, Ma'am, he knows." And she said something about writing another letter and they laughed and then a DNC volunteer came up and took the wheelchair away.

I said "I see by your armband you're a Congressional staffer. May I ask who you're working for?"

And he smiled. "I work in Senator Obama's office."

"Wow!" It was a vicarious thrill, and he knew it. He grinned. "Yeah, I'm lucky."

I figured it was my one chance, even at second hand. "Hey, tell your boss..."

"Yeah?"

I was overwhelmed, suddenly... there was so much. I felt a big lump rise in my throat and finally I said, "...tell him 'thank you,' okay? Just 'thank you.'"

His smile went warm and understanding all at once. "I will, Ma'am. I'll tell him."

And even remembering it, I feel a prickle of tears. After all that's gone on the last couple of days, and the return of hope to my beloved country, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who wishes they could say a heartfelt "thank you."

'night all...

[Syrinx]

1. that's Robert Reich

Not Rubin. Oops. :)

[TygrBright]

2. Yup. I TOLD you he was a prince. An absolute prince.

He knew exactly what I meant in spite of the egg on my face.

wryly,
Bright

[Syrinx]

5. ha!

Yeah, he seems like a nice fellow!

[sandnsea]

3. Awwww

I'll just pretend I had your day today, mkay? Robert Reich and a chance to send a "thank you" to the Senator? Does it get much better than that?? Dreammmy. How is it you can even keep your feet on the ground and your fingers on the keyboard? You must be flying! What a day, what a day.

And there's still tomorrow.

Democrats must have been really really good the last four years to deserve all of this!

[goodgd_yall]

4. Thanks for your reports, TygrBright

I've been enjoying them all!

[Suich]

6. LOL!

:yourock:

[ClayZ]

7. Great Report! K and R

[caseycoon]

8. Thanks TygrBright!

I love your reports & love these pix!
:hi: