sam meets chris matthews...

obama was great, handled the "tee-ball" questions like a pro.  he discussed several issues well, but hearing his thoughts on urban early childhood education was my personal hook. it was good to see him up close and hear him talk for the better part of an hour (and graciously shake hands, pose for pictures, and sign autographs for the students).  as obamaites and political junkies, we were in heaven.  

or so i thought.

this week, my husband calls as i am in the preschool carpool line to pick up my four year old.  it's naptime, i am READY for one myself, but he has a tip from a pharmacist friend that obama will be stopping by his grocery store at 4pm.  we have 45 minutes for a 35 minute drive, so we go!  (me and my three tired young kids).  we get there with time to spare (mostly because candidates are always late, except apparently for a live taping of the chris matthews show).  we waited outside for a bit, but the kids were getting antsy (to put it kindly), so i went inside... i saw our pharmacist friend and chatted with him at the front of the store.  well... guess which door he entered?  and guess who were the only people (aside from the press) right there, waiting for him? it was the perfect spot.

he walks in, grabs a basket (which i assumed was just for show, but he actually bought groceries).  and then he heads right over to us.  so... do i say anything of import or ask any intelligent question, or even just say "you got my vote".  anything substantive?  no.  i am a mama only in this moment.  there is no me.  i introduce the kids, i juggle the baby in one hand and try to take pictures with my iphone in the other (while it rings, of course).  all i can think about is how great it is for maya to be meeting this man she's been cheering for.  literally.  just a few days before, she came home and reported, "mom, me and becka were cheering for obama in the block corner".  ok, i've worked around young kids my whole life... political rallies are a rarity in the block corner.  maya and her big bro really look up to obama, and their little brother loves to shout "yes we can".  i wish i'd at least told obama about the cheering in the block corner.  i wish i'd have said just one semi-intelligent, non-mom in the grocery store kind of thing, but i just smiled and tried to record the moment.  (my mom has since found wonderful pictures on the web taken by a real photographer... the only problem is the pushy mom with her iphone, being thwarted by the secret service, is blocking some of the shots).

my maya shakes obama's hand...

and my iphone shot, which fuzzy as it is (thanks secret service guy), captures her sheer admiration better than the clear one above...

charlie and "bawack obama" (as he calls him)

he was so calm.  so kind.  and so relaxed.  he was in no rush at all.  very sweet with the kids, but especially maya.  he asked her name, and then shared that his sister's name is maya too.  possibly the best thing he could've told her!  he shook hands and patted the baby's head, chatted with maya a bit, and then moved on.  i couldn't believe how lucky we were.  he was mobbed from that point on.  people cheering and chatting and using their phones to record it all.  well, we joined the mob at the exit and waited to sneak one last wave.  i had the baby, and i figured i'd actually try to shake his hand myself this time. i did get to shake it, but the best part was when he looked behind me as he left the store and said... "goodbye maya".  he remembered her name.  she SWOONED!

so, if you were looking for a deep political analysis of campaign issues, i'm afraid this isn't the right spot.  i just wanted to celebrate our family's excitement meeting the man i hope will be our next president.  even on a day like today.