Bit more Obama

How do you do Mr President

Sometimes it's just best not to think too hard. Go with the flow. Who knows, you might even meet the President of the free world.
Which is exactly what happened to me, the other day.
It all started when a group of my neighbours got together in the hope of making a short film. See: http://onmyblockfilms.com/
I just wanted to participate in making something with some local people, make a few contacts, get out of the house and do something positive...The film was okay. A fun enough exercise. However, one of the women who worked on the film just happens to work for President Obama. He knows her by name. Though I'm not sure what job she has. She did though send out an email a few days in advance asking if anyone wanted to meet him at a location as of yet to be advised. After forwarding her your name, which no doubt was checked out by the powers that be, she'd send you an email with instructions on where to go. Which in this case was a very remote airstrip on the outer area of JFK. In fact the airstrip and hanger looked abandoned.
So a mate and I travelled out by train to JFK then simply walked over a highway, crossing carparks and smaller side roads until we came to the hanger in question.
Wandering for a bit we were approached by a gentleman in a non-descript sedan. 'Help you boys?' he said. 'Ummm we're here to greet the President...'Which if you've never said that before sounds really quite odd when actually speaking it out loud to a secret service agent. Directed as to where to go we then found about 50 other people, like us, being security screened and waiting in the shade until we were led onto the tarmac. After a couple of hours and with now tired feet we were ushered onto the tarmac and behind a small crowd-control barrier. Finally, Air Force 1 came into view and the excitement, after waiting a few hours, grew within the small crowd. It took about the ten minutes it took to land and taxi, then turn and bank right in front of us. Naturally, the security was heightened, snipers positioned on hanger rooftops, secret security and not-so-secret security agents everywhere.
The President emerged and waved to the small assemblage. Trotted down the steps, light as ever on his feet and strode purposefully toward us. Even watching him draw closer you couldn't help thinking that you're watching a giant tv screen. That in fact the whole thing was not real. But within seconds he was there, a gaggle of media in his wake, and even more secret security enclosing around him.
He moved down the line at speed yet engaged with everyone of us he met. Eye contact and a smile. You could easily miss out on shaking his hand if you were slow or simple not in a good position. Fortunately, almost everyone shook his hand and managed to bluster out a few words. Mine were, 'It's a pleasure to meet you Mister President.' What else could be said that he hasn't heard before. His response was simple; 'Thank you, thank you.' Warm yet firm handshake and on to the person to my left, then another and another...Within a couple of minutes he was off, striding as purposefully as ever toward the Air Force 1 Chopper, a diversionary one motoring up and departing simultaneously as his ascended.
And it was over. Then after a couple of pics in front of Air Force 1 and two momento Air Force 1 glass tumblers bearing the seal of The President of The United States, we began to hot foot it back to the JFK Air Train...We had two friends, girlfriends of the woman that had teed the whole thing up, intending to return with us by train. None of us were really looking forward to the twenty minute walk back in the hot sun to the station. But we needn't have worried. A non-descript sedan pulled up beside us, driving it, the head of the secret security operation, responsible for orchestrating the tarmac experience; 'You all need a lift?' he said, smiling. His secret service lapel badge catching the sunlight. 'Sure do.' So we climbed in and drove away. What an amazing end to a fantastic day. I said I'd buy him a beer sometime when next passing through his JFK jurisdiction. And I bloody well will.