Everything leading up to this moment has been a story in the making, a moment becoming. I first met Michelle Obama in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It was Oct 16th, 2012 a sunny Tuesday and I was a young mom to my first daughter who just turned 2. Little did I know I would have my younger daughter the same day a year later. She was campaigning for President Obama’s re-election and was to give her speech at the Carmichael Arena in UNC-Chapel Hill. I lived about a mile away so I took off from work and went to stand in line. I vaguely remember it was around 11 a.m. and it was hours before I was finally inside. As luck would have it, I got invited and ushered in towards the stage with some other diverse looking people and there I was front and center.
Hill, Oct 16th, 2012
We waited and I talked to the folks around me, all equally stoked and excited until she came on stage wearing a black/navy and white patterned dress. She took my breath away, her height, her presence, the magnetism she exuded and her arms, those magnificent arms were every bit as strong and beautiful in real life. And then she spoke her convincing, genuine, inspiring words fueling the auditorium with intention. The whole place was charged, electric. After her speech, she walked around and shook hands and spoke to folks. There was a railing and she reached over and hugged. I remember wondering how I could get a picture and the lady with me and I made a deal to take each other’s pics if we were lucky enough to get a chance and share with each other. And there she was, across me. I thanked her, she flashed the most beautiful smile, I gave her my hand to shake and she shook it, held it firmly, warm and then she got distracted talking to someone else. And so there I was my hand for the longest minute ever, soaking up the moment, in awe of her long fingers and sturdy grip, her towering frame and it was one of the most surreal moments of my life.
Fast forward 6 years and a lot had happened. We now lived in Austin with our daughters now 8 and 5. The Obamas had become a nostalgia that hurt given the present political conditions. Michelle was on her book tour and my husband’s Christmas gift to me were those tickets. I hadn’t even realized those were meet and greet VIP tickets until my best friend, surprised I wasn’t freaking out about the gift prodded and made me realize what those tickets really were. I then reacted as I should have, by freaking out and dousing my husband with a million kisses.
I went shopping for an outfit, got my hair done and on a lark got suckered into doing my makeup when I was purchasing lipstick at Nordstrom. It was too late to get the make-up off and it will never happen again – I looked – well, made up, nice perhaps, I think but very different.
Both my girls wrote letters to Mrs. Obama which I hoped I could give to her. I was nervous and excited. We received specific instructions on what to bring and my husband assured me that the clutch was the right size. So there I was with my best friend, fourth in line, in the biting cold, in heels, I only wore once before coz I won’t be bothered with the discomfort otherwise when the facilities lady comes by and says my clutch won’t make the cut. The folks at the ticket counter would not hold it for me and there was no car as we had ubered it. So I did the only reasonable thing to do. I walked over to the trees a few feet away and made a lousy attempt to hide the clutch under some weeds. I gave it a lasting longing look. It was a clutch my husband gave me during my first pregnancy. I said goodbye and went back to my line. I took a few pics of the surrounding area and sent it to my husband with a note ‘They would not let it in so this is where my clutch lies’. Only for Michelle. Only for Michelle.
Once inside we checked in and had to give away our belongings and go stand in line again to meet and greet Mrs. O. I had to leave my letter with the staff who said they’d give it to her. Hopefully it would get to her.
We were in line a good 30 to 40 minutes. My colleague from work was there with her lovely family and we chatted for a bit. Also in line were a few folks visiting from elsewhere. We were all nervous, all talking about what we would say to her. By this time, I had talked about this so much, gone through a number of things I could say to her, ask her, unsure how long I would have or if I would even have much time. I will ask her for a hug I thought. And before I knew it I was in line for the photo op and she was hugging everyone. She hadn’t changed much. She wore a silk blouse in a neutral shade with printed silk pants and kitten heels and was still so tall. She still commanded the room with her presence. A young girl around 11 with her mother was now meeting her. Michelle gave her the warmest hug and greeted her with such love and enthusiasm, I felt a pinch of regret that I didn’t bring my kids along. I was still mesmerized when she was talking to the ladies in front of me about where she went to in Austin when she was trying to remember the name of the barbeque joint where she had lunch and looked around as she tried to recollect the name. She looked at me and I quickly handed her ‘Franklin’s’ and she said ‘Yes Franklin’s … we had the brisket and it was good and then to Jo’s coffee and … ’ she told the ladies who were visiting from North Carolina all the Austin highlights and they said they would go there too.
And then it was my turn. She hugged me and I started rambling as she looked into my eyes as if I was the only one there. I told her she was amazing and that my girls wrote letters but I had to leave it up front. She assured me they would get it to her. I met her in Chapel Hill I told her and she commented on how it was an intense time. We turned to take a picture and then she turned to me again as I was unsure how much time I had left. I told her how I said to anyone who said I should have a boy to complete my family that if it was good enough for the Obamas it was good enough for us. She laughed and asked me how old my girls were. I said 8 and 5 and she commented it was the same age difference between her kids. I sensed the lady next to her nervously pacing perhaps because I lingered a bit longer than I was supposed to and I told her once again how amazing she is and thanked her for everything. I walked on and immediately went to her brother and said ‘You are Craig, aren’t you’, ‘Yes I am’ he said shaking my hand and we both burst out laughing because I had sounded like I knew him from Adam. And then he said ‘Oh now you’re speechless’ and we laughed again. I told him his sister was amazing and so was their family. He said thank you for coming and was incredibly gracious. I stepped out of the makeshift tent and the security guy looked at me and said ‘You did
I got my swag bag and my phone from the check-in area. It would be a couple of hours before the event and her fireside chat on stage started. I checked my phone and was happy to see my husband’s text ‘I got your clutch’ he said. All was well 🙂
To be continued …
