Let's Get Political

I HAVE TO GIVE MY HUBBY CREDIT. HE HAS COME UP WITH SEVERAL FUN AND CREATIVE FAMILY OUTINGS AS OF LATE. HOWEVER, THIS LAST ONE TAKES THE CAKE.

LAST SUNDAY AS WE WERE ENJOYING A STROLL DOWN STATE STREET HE DISCOVERED A FLYER ANNOUNCING AN OBAMA RALLY. HE PROMPTLY SUGGESTED THAT THE FAMILY ATTEND. ITS NO SECRET THAT A) WE LIVE IN A LIBERAL CITY AND B) WE ARE NOT LIBERALS. HOWEVER, THE IDEA OF ATTENDING A RALLY IN WHICH THE PRESIDENT OF OUR GREAT NATION WAS SPEAKING WAS QUITE INTRIGUING AND SEEMED LIKE A RARE OPPORTUNITY. SO, COME TUESDAY AFTERNOON WE FOUND OURSELVES STANDING IN A VERY LONG LINE WITH OUR DOUBLE STROLLER IN TOW. WE WERE SURROUNDED BY ANTI-WAR SIGNS, OBAMA T-SHIRTS, AND A "YES WE CAN" MENTALITY. (I WAS SECRETLY CHANTING "YES I CAN" KEEP TWO CHILDREN CONTENT AND OCCUPIED FROM THE HOURS OF 4-6 PM WITH 2 SIPPY CUPS AND LIMITED SNACKS.) THERE WAS A LOT TO LOOK AT BUT I FOUND MY EYES WERE DRAWN TO A YOUNG MAN (I WOULD GUESS 9 YRS OLD) WHO WAS WEAVING IN AND OUT OF THE LINE PICKING UP TRASH. WEARING A KID'S SIZE OBAMA TEE, HE WOULD EAGERLY SCOOP UP GARBAGE AND PROMPTLY REPORT BACK TO HIS MOTHER TO DISPOSE OF IT. HIS ENTHUSIASM WAS ADMIRABLE; HIS LOVE OF OBAMA WAS CLEAR. AND, WHILE HIS PARENTS WERE PONDERING ANTI-WAR SIGNS, I WAS THINKING ANTI-BACTERIAL (AS IN WIPES!)

UNFORTUNATELY, WE JUST MISSED THE CUT OFF OF FORTUNATE CITIZENS WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO STAND IN THE CONSTRUCTED OUTDOOR ARENA AND VIEW THE PRESIDENT. WE WERE ABLE TO PARK OURSELVES IN A LARGE LAWN ON CAMPUS WITH HUNDREDS OF MADISONIANS AND LISTEN TO MUSICAL GUEST, BEN HARPER, MAYOR TOM BARRETT, SENATOR FEINGOLD AND THE PRESIDENT. THE MOST AMUSING PART OF THE EVENING CAME WHEN OUR DAUGHTER JOINED (THE THOUSANDS OF DEMOCRATS) IN CELEBRATORY CLAPPING AND CHEERS AFTER EACH ROUSING SPEECH THAT WAS MADE. EACH TIME THE CROWD BECAME FIRED UP, CHARLOTTE'S EYES WOULD LIGHT UP AND SHE WOULD DANCE AROUND IN THE GRASS CHEERING. WE ALWAYS KNEW SHE WAS A FREE THINKER; THE RALLY ONLY CONFIRMED WE HAVE A LIBERAL ON OUR HANDS.

(DON'T TELL THE GRANDPARENTS!)

HEADING TO THE RALLY.

ON THE LEFT - JOE, OUR LITTLE CONSERVATIVE

ON THE RIGHT - CHAR, OUR LITTLE LIBERAL

"WHERE'S OBAMA?"

"UM...WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?"

AWAITING THE CHANGE.

PHOTO OP.

SAY "DONKEY."

"DOES DADDY KNOW WE ARE CONSERVATIVES?"

OUR LITTLE AMERICANS.

"YES I CAN...BE SOOOO BIG."

SHE NEEDED A PLACE TO REST AFTER ALL THE DANCING AND CHEERING, SO SHE SET UP A "BED."

"I HAVE A DREAM..."

THIS GIRL NEEDS NO REASON TO DANCE; SHE MAKES HER OWN PARTY.

IT PROVED TO BE YET ANOTHER GREAT FAMILY OUTING, A SPECIAL MADISON MEMORY FOR SURE.

I WAS REMINDED HOW GREAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LIVE IN A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC NATION. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WAS REMINDED HOW LUCKY I AM TO HAVE A HUSBAND WHO CONTINUALLY OPENS MY EYES AND MIND TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES.