bittenburg

Tuesday is my Accounting test. The first one of the semester. I've been generally failing at everything in accounting, so I have been studying hard so I can get a decent grade on this test. I was planning to study all day Saturday, and some of Sunday, take a break, review Monday, and take my test Tuesday night (it should be said that yesterday was also kind-of ruined because of the TREES falling on cars and such, wind issues are SO much fun!).

My mom called, Saturday morning, about 8am. She says, "OMG Bill Clinton will be speaking (on Hillary's behalf) at the Convention Center today! Do you want to go!?" (My mom is a total Bill Clinton fangirl). I hemmed and hawed, and thought about the mountain of text I have to get through, but said yes anyway. How often do you get the chance to see a former president speak, especially in Richmond?

So we drove downtown, where all was eerily silent on such a fine day. We parked, and there were a few people out and about, but not many. Then, we rounded the corner of the convention center and there was like... a line two blocks long, all holding "Hillary Clinton for President!" signs and chanting her name. We walked to the back of the line and a lady came and took our names and gave us stickers and signs. A woman came by with leaflets for Obama, and was yelling at the top of her voice that if we wanted CHANGE, we'd vote for Obama. My mom started chanting, "Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!" at the top of her voice and everyone in the vicinity joined in, drowning out the woman (my mom REALLY wants Hillary to be elected). We talked with the group of women behind us, who had driven 7 hours to get there to see Bill Clinton speak.

Finally, after an hour or so, the line began to move forward. Everyone crowded in a huge room, and my mom estimated that there were 500 people, but I think it was closer to 1500, because everyone was standing and it was PACKED all the way back to the doors. It was a little wild, and my mom got in the spirit and wrapped her Hillary sign around her head (I have pictures). We were maybe 15 feet from the stage. When Bill Clinton came on stage, the noise was deafening. I suppose even I was cheering like a fangirl. It was just so incredible and amazing to see him, in person, not 15 feet away. I think he spoke for an hour and a half or so, covering Hillary's basic campaign promises and why she should be elected, but honestly, it's a rare person that speaks so well that it makes an hour and a half feel like a mere twenty minutes. He didn't use any notes or any catch phrases, he looked everyone in the eye and to me, I felt he spoke very honestly and very simply. He never lost the attention of the crowd. It was quite simply amazing. He's a very gifted speaker (in addition to his in-person charisma), pretty motivational, and I'd like to go see him speak again when he's not speaking on behalf of a campaign.

Pictures or it didn't happen!