Happy Presidents’ Day!
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that President Obama visited Decatur last Thursday. The event was invite-only and being a pillar of the local community I was invited I was lucky enough to attend as one of the 40 volunteers needed for the day.
Somehow the White House staff figured out how to pack about 500 people in local recreation center gym and spent three days transforming it into a proper presidential-speaking-venue.
As silly as it sounds, I agonized over what to wear. I mean, what do you wear to meet see the President of the United States up close in person? Honestly, if I had the money I would have taken a page out of Malia and Sasha’s Inauguration style book and gone with a purple dress like this one. Instead, I reached into the back of my closet and went with this Ann Taylor dress from The Little Black Dress Experiment Lar and I participated in three years ago. The White House volunteer coordinator had told us not to wear heels. I scoffed at him, wore my Aldo black heels, and then hobbled home on Thursday after standing on my feet for six hours straight.
Not only was it an amazing feeling to be so close to Obama, but it was also so much fun to see everyone so excited about his visit the couple of hours before he even entered the building. I’ve never seen so many giddy adults.
President Obama talked for about twenty minutes on the importance of preschool. Here’s a little nugget of information: see that Preschool for All sign below? It was created by the White House staff to look handmade. Apparently this is a typical practice when the President talks at community centers. If someone really has a job where they are in charge of making handmade signs for the President, I want that job. Have you seen the tissue paper tassels I’ve created? It doesn’t get more handmade-looking than that! Washington, here I come!
For those of you who want to read about the real nuts and bolts of the President’s visit to Decatur (why are you reading this post?!), click here for WABE’s coverage of the event.
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Dearest Lar,
The only way you could beat this Obama visit from across the pond, would be a visit from the Queen herself to your workplace. I mean, a visit from David Cameron would be nice, but nothing like being in the same room as President Obama. Then again, I might be a little biased towards the U.S. in that regard – and I always considered myself such an anglophile! Shame on me!
Don’t you think the UK should have a Prime Ministers’ day? If it was today, we could spend the whole day Skyping each other. At least we got to talk twice this weekend! Miss you as always!
xoxo, Cath
i said it on instagram, and i’ll say it again.this is SO AWESOME!!!
Woohoo!
How cool!! Definitely jealous. I’d love to be anywhere near him! 🙂
Even hours after the event, you could tell everyone that attended was still high off of getting to see him!
Best Obama visit coverage? Yours! I was at One Billion Rising that happiest of Thursdays.
Thanks Cameron!!!
I saw pictures of that sign and assumed someone in town made it. Interesting! Also, I keep thinking “I haven’t been in the new Rec center yet, but the President has!”
Hahaha. What a funny thought! The new Rec Center is actually really great. The elevated track alone is amazing – and so is the multi-purpose studio (I don’t think Obama got to see that room!).
SO wish I could have been there with you (and OBAMArama!). Thanks for the post, Kitcath– I almost feel like I was there!
You are so right about the David Cameron vs Queen thing. I wouldn’t get too excited about either actually — in comparison. In the Spring I think Bill Clinton is coming to Edi — then I’ll be really excited if Hilary comes with (I know, I’ve met her once and shouldn’t get greedy).
Hope you had a marvelous president’s day!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox,
Lar
Whoa, a Clinton trip to Edinburgh sounds amazing!!! Maybe the whole family will join Bill. I’ll definitely be jealous then!
How cool is that?! Yay you!
Le bummer about the soreness after many hours on the feet, but the Aldos look great!
It was totally worth the pain. I just can’t image wearing flats to an invite like that 🙂
Nice to meet you! I was the crazy teacher in the red sweater, raising the roof, dancing like a mad woman with all my teacher friends that day! You were also rockin’ the hair doughnut. What a highlight for education in Decatur.
Laura
Laura, it was so nice meeting you! I loved how the teachers were really the rock stars that day!
Cath, when he came the freeway was CRAZY! There were a lot of angry peeps. I’m glad that you had a fab time. It was neat that he came to visit the school. It’s not far from our home and that was exciting in its self.
I heard that about the connector. A lot of people in Decatur were mad too because the whole town was basically one big road block!