obamania

sometimes i am a little embarrassed that i (still) live with uncle bob (again).

but then i get invited to things like the congressional families picnic and it doesn't seem so bad anymore.

the congressional families picnic happens every year on the south lawn of the white house. this year it was a luau theme.




one really great thing about the congressional families picnic is that there is delicious food.




another great thing about the south lawn of the white house is the spectacular view.




something else great about the congressional families picnic is that uncle bob can introduce you to joe biden. it's even better when uncle bob says, "this is my niece, frances. she's a real democrat." and joe biden says, "god bless you, sweetheart," and gives you a kiss on the cheek.




also at the congressional families picnic, you and your cousin heather can elbow your way through the crowd to say hello to michelle obama, who is 1,000 times more stunning in real life than in any photograph, and just as nice. (heather asked about her workout regimen and she said, "it's all about waking up early, you know?" but i don't really know, because i wake up early and my arms do not look like that.)



and then, in what might be the best moment of your life until now, you will get to shake hands with the president. this is how i felt when i first saw him.




but i managed to keep my cool when my big moment came, and neither drooled nor wet my pants. however, i might have dislocated my jaw with this smile.




because we are all friends on the internet, i will tell you that i teared up when i stood face-to-face with that obama. besides salt lake city mayor ralph becker (my first and true political love), i have never met someone i voted for, and it was a pretty emotional thing. i felt a real sense of solidarity. like we were in this together. (i am sure he felt it, too. right?)

some more great things about the congressional families picnic are uncle bob's hawaiin shirt and panama hat, and also the firedancers who provided a little post obama-mobbing entertainment. on any other night, firedancers probably would have been the highlight. (fire! light! joke!)

but on this particular night, they were totally outshone.