Thank you for all that you do and are.
Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 08:18:05 AM PDT
Consider this a TYKW diary (Thank You, Kind World!). ;-)
I returned to my hometown of Chicago this past weekend to attend YearlyKos for the first time (I missed the Vegas edition). Talking to various people at that convention, I can honestly say there's a reason we're growing so quickly and I believe we will take back our country. Never have I met a more dedicated, thoughtful, compassionate, and just plain interesting collection of people. You came from all over the world for a singular purpose - to leave the world a better place than you found it.
One conversation I'll never forget was with the women I sat next to before the presidential forum. She had some kind of a temporary knee problem, IIRC, and was in a wheelchair for the duration of the convention. She was talking about how she'd never realized how differently people treat you when you're in a wheelchair until then; even in the most liberal of crowds, they seem not to notice you or just don't quite know what to say. That was enlightening.
Another that I enjoyed was the woman from Arkansas who was a big-time Clark supporter. Though we disagreed on our preferred candidates, we had a very interesting conversation over lunch on Friday. And you had to love her accent. ;-)
Then there was the woman who was meeting with the Obama folks to get an Athletes for Obama site started.
On Saturday just before lunch, as I walked to the ballroom, I suddenly found myself mere feet from Bill Richardson. I was able to walk up to him, hand him a foam donkey (our company's mascot, Lefty). Turns out the entire conversation was caught on tape by the folks at PBS and appeared on the Newshour with Jim Lehrer as they were talking about the convention (it was a great shot, too, LOL). Later, I also got Obama's autograph on a Lefty.
Then there were the parties - I met so many people at the Candidates party and the Teamsters cookout I can hardly remember them all. I even ran into CT and got to thank him for doing such a wonderful job keeping this site up.
So many people, from so many backgrounds, all united by a singular purpose. Folks, this is what this country was supposed to be like. That is the true American dream - that we can work together to create a society that works for all of us, regardless of our background or interests. It gives me great hope to see that.
I'm verklemt. Thank you.
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