Obama Rally
So, this morning my mom and I drove the auto shop that my parents decided is the best place to fix my car, and when we got there they were closed... So I guess my car isn't getting fixed until Monday at the earliest :( I hope they can fix it in one day, and don't have to order a part that will take a while to arrive or anything :/
But my mom and I decided to go to the Obama Rally at RIC today. Unfortunately we didn't leave quite early enough. The doors opened at 12, it was supposed to start at about 2, and it was about quarter to 12 when we left. So we realized there was tons of traffic near RIC and everyone was parking on the street. So we did that, and then began to walk in the cold towards RIC. When we got there, we saw someone walking back, who claimed they didn't allow bags, and my mom had her purse, we didn't know if that was true and kept walking, and someone else told us they'd probably just search the purse and let us in. So we kept waiting, but I was a bit nervous we'd have to go back. Especially when we saw the line. The line was huge. And not moving. But we kept walking and walking to find the end anyway, and decided to wait anyway. We weren't the last ones there, tons of people continued to get in line after us. But the line moved very slow. Finally as we got sorta-kinda near the building the rally was in, we saw a couple of tour buses and cop car escorts and stuff go by, everyone assumed Obama was in there, and some people got out of line, realizing they probably won't get in but wanted to at least see him get off the bus. Shortly after that, we found out they were no longer letting people inside, so the line broke up and people just began to gather up by the building and around the parking lot outside of it. No one was allowed in the parking lot, where the buses went and cops and secret service guys were everywhere.
So we gathered at the edge of this parking lot. On the other side of the lot, facing the building, there was a podium and microphone, and by the crowd of people on the other side there were some speakers set up. I think if we were over there we could've stayed and listened to the whole thing from outside. But we could barely hear the speakers where we were. But finally Obama came (after waiting forever in the cold, and it was even raining) and talked quickly to the crowds outside on the podium. It was hard to hear him from where we were, especially since the speakers were reverberating. He had his back to us at the podium, but it was still cool. The speech was very brief, and he went up to the people on that side of the parking lot, who were behind one of those temporary metal fence things. There was no fences or anything on our side, but there were less people and the security kept us away. Until everyone on my side started shouting "Over here! Over here! Over here!" and Obama started walking towards us! He walked to a spot directly in front of where I was standing, about 10-15ish feet in front of me. He said that he couldn't shake all of our hands but that he appreciated we all came, or something like that. While we missed the actual rally inside, this was still very cool, to see Obama, even if for only a minute, up close and personal like that.
Unfortunately the batteries in my camera were dead, and I didn't get a chance to take them. But not everything needs pictures, I'm just glad I came in support of Obama. I truly hope he become the next president of the U.S.
EDIT: I went out to dinner tonight with my mom, and when we were on airport road, by coincidence Obama and his entourage and escorts and all happened to come down airport road as well and turn into the airport.
But my mom and I decided to go to the Obama Rally at RIC today. Unfortunately we didn't leave quite early enough. The doors opened at 12, it was supposed to start at about 2, and it was about quarter to 12 when we left. So we realized there was tons of traffic near RIC and everyone was parking on the street. So we did that, and then began to walk in the cold towards RIC. When we got there, we saw someone walking back, who claimed they didn't allow bags, and my mom had her purse, we didn't know if that was true and kept walking, and someone else told us they'd probably just search the purse and let us in. So we kept waiting, but I was a bit nervous we'd have to go back. Especially when we saw the line. The line was huge. And not moving. But we kept walking and walking to find the end anyway, and decided to wait anyway. We weren't the last ones there, tons of people continued to get in line after us. But the line moved very slow. Finally as we got sorta-kinda near the building the rally was in, we saw a couple of tour buses and cop car escorts and stuff go by, everyone assumed Obama was in there, and some people got out of line, realizing they probably won't get in but wanted to at least see him get off the bus. Shortly after that, we found out they were no longer letting people inside, so the line broke up and people just began to gather up by the building and around the parking lot outside of it. No one was allowed in the parking lot, where the buses went and cops and secret service guys were everywhere.
So we gathered at the edge of this parking lot. On the other side of the lot, facing the building, there was a podium and microphone, and by the crowd of people on the other side there were some speakers set up. I think if we were over there we could've stayed and listened to the whole thing from outside. But we could barely hear the speakers where we were. But finally Obama came (after waiting forever in the cold, and it was even raining) and talked quickly to the crowds outside on the podium. It was hard to hear him from where we were, especially since the speakers were reverberating. He had his back to us at the podium, but it was still cool. The speech was very brief, and he went up to the people on that side of the parking lot, who were behind one of those temporary metal fence things. There was no fences or anything on our side, but there were less people and the security kept us away. Until everyone on my side started shouting "Over here! Over here! Over here!" and Obama started walking towards us! He walked to a spot directly in front of where I was standing, about 10-15ish feet in front of me. He said that he couldn't shake all of our hands but that he appreciated we all came, or something like that. While we missed the actual rally inside, this was still very cool, to see Obama, even if for only a minute, up close and personal like that.
Unfortunately the batteries in my camera were dead, and I didn't get a chance to take them. But not everything needs pictures, I'm just glad I came in support of Obama. I truly hope he become the next president of the U.S.
EDIT: I went out to dinner tonight with my mom, and when we were on airport road, by coincidence Obama and his entourage and escorts and all happened to come down airport road as well and turn into the airport.