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| It was the year 2000 and that day we were right smack in the middle of that
election fiasco. A friend of mine, Anne Gannon (Anne at left, Jean Harden
at right and of course Danielle) was being inducted into her freshman term
as state legislator that morning. That evening the Florida Commission on
the Status of Women was having their 2000 induction ceremony and as I am a
member of the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women, I
definitely wanted to attend. Chris Evert was being inducted and I hoped to
meet her. That same day the first ruling by the Florida Supreme Court
was expected. The town was a media circus.
We watched the induction ceremony on the monitors and in the gallery until we saw Anne, at which point we decided to explore the Florida Capitol. We did the usual, signed the Governor's guest book with sage advice, visited the 21st floor and paid homage to to Doak Campbell Stadium (Go Noles!), had lunch at the snack bar, tracked down kindred spirits in the legislature, made friends with the press and tried to get interviewed . . . When we walked by the Office of the Secretary of State we noticed that it was filled with flowers and stuffed animals. Say what? Last time I was there, under Sandy Mortham there was all kinds of interesting literature about the state. Got to check it out. There was a watchdog inside along with a couple with two young children. We asked the watchdog if we could take pictures, meaning of the flowers and stuffed animals. Instead, Katherine Harris (seen here without make-up) came out and began posing with those in the office. I wanted Danielle in the photo but she refused and insisted upon taking one of me and Katherine. What a hoot! The press, however, soon heard that Ms Harris was out and about and came running. Sisterhood always transcends politics and when I saw the look on her face I immediately jumped up, blocked the doorway, and said, "I haven't been interviewed yet, you can interview me!" Harris beat a hasty and grateful retreat. As much as I dislike her politics, the woman was beleaguered and besieged for doing what she perceived to be her duty and it felt good to help her out.Don't ask me why, but this action endeared me to one of the CNN cameramen. We exchanged pleasantries throughout the day when we met in the lobby or elevators. At the Florida Commission on the Status of Women Induction Ceremony we were positioned slightly to the front of him within easy earshot and I made the usual wisecracks waiting for the ceremony to begin. Now, normally the national media doesn't attend our little ceremony, but they were waiting for the ruling from the Florida Supreme Court and hoping to catch Jeb Bush off guard at the ceremony. Finally, Governor Jeb came out and walked down the aisle past us. After he got far enough away for no average human being to be able to hear, I whispered to Mr. CNN, "There goes the sibling shrub!" The Guv must have heard me because he turned around and gave me a very inscrutable stare. Here I had the grace to feel a bit ashamed, his look changed to one that almost resembled hurt feelings. I guess it is not easy to encounter hostile attitudes everywhere you go. Then my common sense kicked in and I realized that this is the brother of the man who made fun of Carla Faye Tucker's pleas for mercy before her execution.Never having been one to miss an opportunity to show a total lack of tact and taste and to impose upon others, as soon as Jeb sat down I grabbed Danielle, ran up to him, and asked him to pose with her. At first he protested that there wasn't time (actually thinking to himself what a brassy broad) but then he noticed the national media lined up with their cameras and said OK. Wouldn't look good to say no to such an adorable creature as my baby. To his credit, he stroked her hair and complimented her on how beautiful it is. Here I have the leader of the state that will determine the course of the only remaining superpower in the world for the next four years hanging on my every word and what do I do? Give him sage advice and counsel, ask to be appointed ambassador to Australia (I also speak English)? No -- I invite him over to brush it sometime! He replied that his wife did the grooming in the family and I should consult her. Is this reality or a Kafka novel? |
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Later that evening I redeemed myself a bit by schmoozing with Jean Harden of the Florida Women's Consortium and former astronaut and Senator-elect Bill Nelson at the reception. |
