Keeping My Feet on the Ground

I apologize. I have not been faithful in my blogging. I expected to have more time and energy to reflect and write. It is both the fault of my busyness and my own writers' block when it comes to describing my time here.

For some reason, what I do isn't striking me as important or unique as it might actually be. Some of this is probably because relative to some of the others in the program and others I am in contact with, the events of my days are fairly average. The power, fame, and importance is as normal as the Washington monument on the skyline. It feels like finding treasure in a museum. It's exciting and beautiful, but it's already been found, encased, and enjoyed by many others before me.

Suffice to say, I am not as easily impressed as I used to be. I have lost some of that child-like wonder that used to captivate me about life in Washington, DC. This makes me sad. I think I have a hard time transitioning from dreams to the realization of them. My experience really has not been anything less than I dreamed it would be, it's just that I have not been able to realize it all. I'll snap out of it. If I get some time. Just trying not to get run off my feet.

McCain/Palin Rally

On Tuesday, we realized that John McCain and Sarah Palin were going to be having a rally just outside DC in Fairfax, Virginia. We knew it was not something that we should pass up. A bunch of us got tickets and set out early (6:45 am) to take the Metro to the end, then a bus, then a walk for a few miles to get there. It was a beautiful day for it and thousands of people had come out. The line to get in stretched for possibly a mile. They expected over 15,000 and I don't think they were disappointed.

After about 37 (it seemed) introductory speakers, Fred Thompson made an appearance and a brief speech. Then the motorcade of suburbans rolled up and out comes the McCains and Palins. Both McCain and Palin spoke, which was essentially a repeat of their convention speeches, but both, especially McCain, were noticeably fired up.

On the way out, we came upon the motorcade and campaign bus as they exited the grounds. About 30 feet in front of us, the bus stopped and the whole gang got out to shake hands and wave at people for a minute. I couldn't see this part, as there were about 2,000 people in between me and them in that 30 feet and about 1,000 thought that would be a good time to wave their free signs above their head. So it was hard to see. However, I did see them as they climbed back into the bus and McCain stayed up in the front of the bus as they closed the doors and began driving past us. Once again, the number of people and signs and dead camera batteries rendered a good picture impossible. I got a cell phone camera picture of the bus going by, but no McCain. I saw him, just didn't get a picture.

Then we had to find our way back which we had not done so much planning for. Some of us walked all the way back to the Metro, some took a cab, and the buses were too delayed by the rally mess to be counted on to get us back in time. The problem was that we had to get back by 3 for class and be professionally dressed for it. It was tight. We walked in the door of the ASP with 4 minutes before 3 to dress professionally. We walked into class in 5 and didn't miss a thing. Boo-yah.