Ken and I met a friend through our involvement in the Trussville Tea Party named Les Phillip. If you live in the Huntsville/Madison area, you should really pay attention to that name because he is running for Congress in 2010 in your district. We have gotten to know him really well over the past couple of months, and we have now officially started helping with his campaign.
Being on a campaign can mean many things, and Ken and I have made it clear to Les that we want to help anyway we can. For someone with as many talents as my husband, that can tie up a lot of your free time, and quite honestly, it has. Especially this week because Les held his first fundraiser-”An Evening with Mike Huckabee.”
Les gave each of us assignments to help with the event. Ken’s job was to help with production meaning that he spent many hours running around in the heat, moving heavy speakers, and pretty much, working his tail off until wee hours of the morning. My assignment was to have lunch with the Governor and ten other Les supporters. He was to be the key note speaker for the fundraiser that evening, and I guess, we were the entertainment until then. I told Ken, “You campaign your way, and I’ll campaign mine.”
For several days leading up to it, I contemplated what I was going to wear because let’s face it, this was a big deal to me. I’ve never met a former governor, or a presidential candidate, or even someone with their own TV show. My attire was important, at least to me it was. I had gone over in my head several conversations I might have with the Governor just to be prepared. As my sweet husband likes to remind me, I can be a bit of a social hand-grenade. So I was prepared to be on my best behavior (and look good all the while).
I had to drive up to Huntsville for lunch (which is about a two hour drive from our house). About fifteen minutes before I was to arrive in town, I got a phone call from Les telling me that the Govenor had some work to do. I was disappointed. I guess that’s just how it is with important people. You can take time off work, drive several hours to meet, and practice making conversation, but in reality you are just a plebe. Well, maybe one day soon this plebe will have a friend in Congress!
The trip wasn’t a complete loss. We still had the fancy lunch, just minus one Governor. And the fundraiser was a huge success. I was bummed because after all my preparation, I didn’t even get to meet Gov. Huckabee or shake his hand. The only reason I even got within view of him was because my seat happened to be exactly where he was positioned for the “Meet & Greet.” Ironically, while I was eating my rubber chicken and making small talk with strangers, Ken was back-stage yackin’ it up with Huck.
I could have gotten in line to have my picture made with him, but even this plebe has her limits. When I saw that there were a zillion people in line, I decided I ‘d gone as far as I was willing to go to meet Gov. Huckabee, and that I would just have to settle for this crummy picture with him in the background.
This last picture is of me and my dad (A.K.A. Pop). He agreed to be my date to the event since Ken was running around behind the scenes. I was really glad he was there since I don’t do well making small talk with strangers, and in the interest of giving credit where it is due, my sweet mom was back at the hotel with the kids. There is no way Ken and I could do all that we are able to do without their help. Thanks again guys for going with us!
