~~I always feel compelled to fill up space, I don't know why. So I thought I'd stick this old story on here today...... Grin and bear it, OK?

Summer 2000

I'm not sure if I ever mentioned my day at the Al Gore campaign rally? I probably did, but I can't remember if I told anyone or not, so bear with me, I'm old and I demand some respect for a failing memory, OK?

Anyway, two hospital volunteer buddies and I went to this rally during the 2000 campaign. I'm not going to describe the frenzied excitement and how a person can really get caught up in it. It's pretty much like going to a concert to see some rock star, I suppose. Only the person we came to see is a helluva lot more important than a rock star, for sure!!

It was held on a parklike square downtown, and the green space was really crowded. Sharpshooters were watching from several tall buildings surrounding the square.. Bush didn't get sharpshooters at rallies, but then he was not the Vice-president, was he? Hah. We were standing way too close to one of the two gigantic speakers that nearly blew us over with the music and sound. Oy! Damm, it was exciting.

No-one was allowed to carry in purses, tote bags, etc, etc. Since I wasn't driving, all I needed was a coin purse in my pocket and my house key. I pinned the key to my bra. Then, after my buddies got thru the detector, they waited while I was beeped a couple of times.......couldn't figure it out---what the heck?

The FBI guys looked exactly like the stereotypes on TV, black suits/white shirts/black sunglasses. Two stood with that practiced grim expression and hands crossed in front of their crotches (what's that about?) while I started sweating and being beeped. Finally!! I remembered the key in my bra. Two other FBI smurfs watched carefully (too carefully, if you ask me) while I fumbled in my shirt to unpin the key and give it to them. At last!! I passed thru the detector with my life....and my house key.....intact.

An extremely cheery campaign volunteer came by with a box of cold Cokes for the great unwashed public (that would be us and a few thousand others).........Oh boy, that cold soda never tasted SO fine. And that's my big story of the day.