Last Night

Alas, for deception! Private no longer means intimate! But who knew? Last night’s soiree at the Obamas was “well attended”, to say the least. So numerous was the crowd, in fact, that I found myself surrounded by familiar faces. The presence of friends is a comfort always, but especially in circumstances that tax the heart with fears of unworthiness. Indeed, I was nervous for no reason at all! In preparation for the event, I worried all day long. To find topics of interest to the most powerful man and woman in the world, is a trouble we should all have! But I am naturally quite shy, and too-easily discouraged by the appearance of boredom in my audience. Even as adventurous as I feel my experiences have been, I wonder if a President might find them equally interesting. Perhaps. In any event, I was quite silly to have let myself brood.

The event took place in a grand hallway overlooking the White House gardens. A quintet whose members were dressed all in red, played music from the center of the room. Appetizers passed in profusion, though none were vegan, and so I declined. I did, however, overhear many a compliment spoken in their honor, so it seems White House cuisine is as rumor has it, nonpareil. An open bar served many varieties of wine and mixed drinks, of which I tried a most excellent white. Perhaps most exciting, the hall in which we met led directly into each of the three colored rooms that invariably claim some part of educational books about the White House. There was a Red Room, a Blue Room, and a Green Room. All three were lavishly decorated with an economy of period pieces in coordinating colors. Gorgeous bouquets of sweet-fragranced flowers added just the freshest touch in what might otherwise have seemed “museum” settings. 

I sat for quite some time with two other spouses, in the Green Room, and we discussed children’s books, as both were planning a trip to Stockholm and would be bringing American children’s literature as a donation to a library there. 

One half hour in, the President and First Lady’s arrival prompted the crowd to the center of the room, where we lined up to shake hands and have our pictures taken. Time was barely enough to have even ten words with Mr. Obama, but we were very pleased to discover that he knew of my partner’s latest projects in Congress, and didn’t hesitate to congratulate him on recent legislative victories. Then we were off to meet the First Lady, who greeted a second crowd on the other side of the room. It is worth mentioning that the two of them negotiated the masses with extraordinary grace and elegance. Never once did we feel rushed in conversing. We talked about the Obamas’ new dog, Bo, and even discussed our own upcoming adoption of a rescue dog. 

Together with the pictures from January, I believe we now have enough to justify starting a photo album! All in all, it was an extraordinary event I won’t ever forget!