so! this might just be one of the most random things ever! but… whenever we arrive down here, one thing i love to do is check out which notable names will be stopping by the local bookstore for book signings and such. a lot of fun people pass through here, for whatever reason, and i’m always crossing my fingers for a favorite. [i mean, if diana ever came?!! i would not even survive!! one can only pray!]
last year we went and saw buzz aldrin! that was definitely incredible. and before that i went with a friend to a signing by one of my mom’s favorite authors. i was also told that one of the all-time biggest turnouts here was for nicholas sparks! can you imagine! although, i don’t know… i might be tempted to be like, “do you KNOW how many tears you have caused me to shed, mr. sparks?!??!! SO. MANY.”
okay, anyway! back to my story! so, when we arrived down here, naturally, i checked out the bookstore happenings. to my surprise, past-president george w. bush was scheduled for a visit to sign copies of his new book – a collection of artwork honoring many of america’s military veterans. [love!!!] i definitely didn’t see that one coming! but we were game, for sure!
now, i know that politics is literally the worst topic to bring up like, anywhere, ever right now! but regardless of left or right or center or sideways or whatever your political stance is… well, it’s just quite an opportunity to stand in the presence of a united states president. it just is. i’m also kind of fascinated that one could be both presidential and also a very talented painter! that amazes me. his artwork is beautiful.
soooo… we went!! things were all very, extremely official, too. i had to purchase our wristbands a few days ahead of time. and then when we arrived… we saw that there was a line. a BIG line. a big, long line throughout the parking lot. followed by a metal detector. and then more big, long line inside the building! the children were really great, though. there were other kiddos around, and the weather was nice, and people were nice! it all moved pretty fluidly.
then, after all that… the time finally came to enter the very special president tent. oh my! there were no photos or anything like that [we couldn’t even have our phones on us!!], but we walked up to the table where he was very speedily signing, and suddenly my brain cells were a little like *@&$%#!* i was holding my fidgety rocco, who immediately reached out and grabbed what i assumed was only president bush’s small bottle of water sitting near him on the table. so, past-prezzy b, who was offering me the kind greeting of a fistbump in that moment [!!! i assume he was being personal and expedient while avoiding germs? it seemed clever!], said in what i perceived to be a humorous tone something like, “oh, does he want water?” to which i think i responded with some sort of casually embarrassed mom sentence that i can’t even recall [rats!!], and then i believe he said, “i like the hair!” again… re: rocco. which makes total sense, because rocco=hair. wonderful, crazy hair. 🙂 ooh, rocco!
and at that, they pushed us riiiight on through! after all, they were sifting 1500 or so people through a very, very small president funnel. and… that was that! our presidential experience. fistbumps. attempted water stealing. hair acknowledgement. actually, i don’t know if that was the full recap or not, because steven and maddalena were behind us! so, to be honest, i’m not even sure if they had their own unique experience or if rocco’s water robbery hair distraction just stole the show! haha!
either way, it was really neat for me and steven both. we each remember quite well the trips we took with school to DC while bush was president. i kept hoping for a glimpse of him the whole time we toured the white house! we both also agreed that we grew up so familiar with his face and voice that the weirdest thing about seeing him in person was that it didn’t feel weird enough! and now our little babers can say that they’ve met a past US president. 🙂 so, there you go! that was our wednesday last week!
…oh, wait!!!! then we got gelato! gosh, that salted caramel is un. real. and then! the comcast guy came while rocco napped and madd and stevo played in the pool. haha. what a day! i mean, a US president and a comcast guy?! 😉 perfect.
[ps. wearing a few favs!!! floral maxi // studded gladiator sandals // DIY wrap bracelet]
This is so cool! Regardless of your stance you are so right I mean the man was PRESIDENT! OF. THE. UNITED. STATES. That’s kiiiind of a big deal! Something you’ll never forget! I went with my brother to hear him speak at a local airport during a campaign stop back when I was in college. Air Force One and all. No one on one wager stealing/hair comments though. So cool!
my thoughts exactly!!! and i have heard people say great things about hearing him speak. wish he’d been able to do that this time around for us… but it was quite a crowd for a tiny bookstore, ha!!
Gorgeous dress! And I love that he fistbumped you. 🙂 He seems like such a nice guy!!! And I watched him on Ellen, when he was sharing this book, and goodness he really is a talented artist! Who woulda thought!
xo
thanks, girly!!! and isn’t that hilarious!!! i was like fistbump?! me?! okay!