PHOTOS FOR MY SISTER WHO IS CHOMPING AT THE BIT!
I snapped this photo right before getting a handshake from the Senator! My friend Georgianne is showing off her pretty pink nails! LOL This was her first political rally and she was determined to get a handshake. I think she managed to get one from Cindy who is following her husband down the ramp. He looked good and was interacting with us quite energetically. Cindy was gorgeous! Just as feminine and elegant in person as I had imagined she would be.YES DEAR PEOPLE-I SHOOK HANDS WITH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN! And as I did, a flood of emotions overtook me. As I held his right hand in mine, the scenes from videos taken during his imprisonment surfaced and brought tears to my eyes. I desired to have a minute with him to humbly try and express my gratitude to this great man.
Are you ready to know a secret about me? I must admit, I easily get star struck! I was as happy as a kid in a candy shop yesterday as I stood so very near Senators, Mayors, Governors, Congressmen and YESTHE FUTURE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY OF THIS GREAT LAND! And to see my 10 year old son enjoying it 'almost' as much as I ---well it's priceless!
After some local entertainment, there was a trickle of speakers. Two of the gentlemen who spoke prior to the McCain's arrival, had been fellow P.O.W.s with John in the Hanoi Hilton. The Mayor of St. Petersberg spoke, and a congresswoman from the Bay Area. After she took leave of the podium, the music started. I could feel the energy build in the hall as we all turned our attention to the doorway and ramp which all the speakers had entered and descended from. I could literally FEEL the anticipation in the place. Then - the voice of the announcer over the PA-
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the next President of the United States, Senator John McCain with his lovely wife Cindy!"
And the cheers, oh the cheers! It was amazing to feel the hopes and support of all those around me! Accompanying the McCain's on stage were Jack Kemp who ran for Vice-President with Bob Dole. Also one of our state's former Governors, Bob Martinez and our state's current republican senator, Mel Martinez.
The rally was great and although sore and exhausted from standing for 6 hours, it was well worth it! My friend, Georgianne was with us and experienced her first political rally ever. She really enjoyed this new experience, but confessed, she was pooped afterwards! Photos below to prove just how pooped she was!
Shane and I in line waiting to enter the rally!Shane was such a trooper and SO into the whole thing. Last night while cuddling together on the couch he said, "Man I had fun today. I'm just a political baby I guess!" I assume he meant he was born with the inclination to love politics!?
All during the evening, off and on, he would come to the room I was in and exclaim, "Wow I can't believe I shook both of their hands!" You see, he lucked out and got a handshake from Cindy McCain AND the Senator!
I hope as you look at the photos, you try to imagine my joy and excitement as I was taking them, standing in the midst of HUGE JOHN MCCAIN FANS! Realize there was much screaming and whooping and hollering, even some whistling. I was on cloud nine!
I took this right before I got my handshake!
The bright stage lights in my photos were a thorn in my flesh all afternoon.
Senator Mel Martinez stepping onto the stage.
A pooped Georgianne! After the rally, we grabbed a seat and rested awhile before walking the mile back to our parked vehicle! While waiting, I was able to visit with Senator Mel Martinez a bit and get a great photo of him just "hangin' with the folks!"
Senator Martinez in the concourse after the event.
It was a great honor for me to be able to chat with Mark Sharpe,whom I voted for several times over the years. He is now serving as a County Commissioner for Hillsborough County. Mark's last name fits him well! He is one "sharp" looking guy!
John McCain was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of more than 2,500 supporters at the Tampa Convention Center. In light of the nation's worsening financial crisis, Senator McCain gave a fiery speech vowing to reform Wall Street and make corporate executives more accountable. As someone who has taken on the pharmeceutical industry and the tobacco industry, John McCain seemed eager to take on the task of reforming America's broken financial system and putting an end to the excesses of corporate greed.
WFLA TV in Tampa had a one-on-one interview with John McCain on Monday. Senator McCain candidly addressed America's economic troubles and the importance of keeping taxes low in this economic environment.
More photos tomorrow! I want to share some of the posters and buttons seen at the rally. Oh and photos of some "other peopele" I ran into!
16 comments:
This was such a fun post to read, and I loved all the pictures. I can tell you had a BLAST!! We got a "message" from him on our answering machine letting us know he was going to be in Albuquerque a few weeks back. We still have it saved on there, and the kids get all excited when they hear him..."hello, this is John McCain..." They think he was actually calling our house personally!!=)
what a memory!!
Sounds like you had a great time! It's too bad that there are some folks who don't agree with his running mate JUST because she's a woman. They've misinterpreted Scripture and feel woman are not to have authority over men anywhere when the Bible says only in the home and church...sigh!
Reminds me of another Rally you and Shane got to go to. It was 4 years ago and he got to rub the President's leg, remember? It brings back memories of MLK and Dale Mabry with our signs after church when President Bush was at Legend's Field. That was fun!
Lol!!! You would think you just met...uh...Toby Mac...or someone special like that. I wanna meet him too!
And Palin too!
But that would be kinda awkward.
Yeh.
Sounds and looks like you had a day full of excitement, I am so glad you were able to attend and have such a positive experience. Love the pic of you with your son, you are one pretty lady and I love your hair!
Hugs & Blessings,
Tiany
How very exciting!!!! We've never been to a political rally. You make me want to go!!! We'll have to put weighs on you to hold you to the ground if Sarah Palin comes and you get to see her :o)
Susan
Did you hear me scream!!!! My sister has shook, (shaken???) the hand of John McCain and George Bush!!!!!!!
Good for you! How neat that Shane was able to be there as well. That should count as a current event report. :)
OH my! First of all, I hope your deleted comments weren't from ugly people.
Secondly, WOOHOO!! How fun!!! Tell your friend I DO like her nails. lol That's funny.
And Cindy McCain is a very lovely lady. Yes, very feminine. Can't say that about a lot of demoncrats...uh.er...democrats. LOL
~Kristi
Oh how fun! And the picture of you (with your son) is lovely--what a pretty lady you are. (o:
Hey girl, what fun you're having. Love the report and pics, especially of you and Shane. You look so pretty! With support like yours, how can McCain lose!?
We all need to pray for them....
Oh Pam how pretty you look! How exciting! Nothing exciting ever happens in Germany and yes that includes that nitwit Obama coming over here! I notice that you had to remove 3 comments. Hmmmmm could they have been from democrats? You know there's a reason that their icon is a donkey.
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