I'd rather think of you, not as just having been a part of that at one time but still a part of it but you're just on extended leave. :) In keeping with that thought, and knowing you're back in "flamingo country", wanted to repost *this* host/hostess grpahic. :)
(((((Billie)))))) - you know how much I love that graphic - so much so that it is on my profile page. Thank you for your warm words.
(((((((Dixie Sass))))))))))
All: I have to share a tale from today's adventures. My daughter wanted to go to an indoor flea market on Sample Road in Coral Springs/Pompano Beach (FL) this morning. When we finished shopping and attempted to leave the parking lot at approximately 11:45, we queued up with about twenty other cars, but no one was moving when the light turned green.
I am not a very patient person and started getting very agitated when I saw the light turn several times, but no one was moving. I also was able to see that there were uniformed police officers standing in the middle of the 6-lane roadway, but couldn't see why. As others left their cars and migrated up towards the street, I could sense some excitement and decided to do the same, leaving .45MAN and daughter behind.
As I made it up to the street, several police cars, motorcycle police and three SUV's whizzed by at a high rate of speed. It suddenly dawned on me as I saw that the entrance to the Turnpike was blocked off and the traffic coming west was completely stopped, that something very big was about to happen.
Well, DUH! The President was in south Florida this morning and was supposed to travel up from Sunrise (west of Ft. Lauderdale) to West Palm Beach and then Daytona!
I motioned for .45MAN and my daughter to join me. They walked up to the roadway and the excitement among other bystanders was palpable. Mind you, this is not a pedestrian-friendly roadway, but a heavily-traveled east-west route. But, there was a small crowd eagerly awaiting a glimpse of President Bush's bus tour.
One woman griped loudly that it was "just silly" for 10 miles of roadway to be blocked for 30 minutes. I wanted to shout at her, "You FOOL - this is the man that has protected you and your family since 9/11. I think you can be inconvenienced for a few minutes while he passes on through." But, I remained silent.
Another woman said to those standing around her, "I know he's going to get re-elected no matter how I vote, so what does it matter?" My loud response to .45MAN and my daughter, "Then she might as well vote for President Bush!" My "Anyone-but-Bush" daughter was *not* amused.
:-)
At several-minute intervals, either motorcycle police or police cruisers would fly by at a high rate of speed. Finally, after about 30 minutes, we could see a lot of police cruisers, motorcycles and lights coming from the west.
President Bush's bus was preceded by two SUV's with armed men inside. The highly-decorated patriotic bus was next. Most of the people cheered and waved enthusiastically. Although it was impossible to see into the bus, we knew the president was there. Several more buses flew by, those carrying the media, we supposed. The drivers and passengers in the first few seats who were visible waved back to the crowd.
When it was all over, I floated back to the car. Even though I hadn't actually seen the president, I felt his presence. Even more astounding was the fact that *no one* in the heavily democratic (I assumed) crowd gave a thumbs-down or any other disparaging sign. All that were stuck there against their will still had the decency to cheer and wave for their commander-in-chief - at least those that bothered to leave their cars and wander up to the roadway.
My daughter was impressed, although she has met many politicians and public people where she works in Georgetown. I think she was secretly happy for me, knowing what a thrill it was for me.
Even though he was shielded by a bus going by at about 60 miles per hour, I still felt the very strong presence of our president - and that is probably the closest I will ever get to him. May God continue to bless President Bush, his family, our military and our wonderful country.
God Bless you all at the Finest, too.