Every once in awhile I get one of those professional days when I feel like Forrest Gump with a camera. A week ago I had no intention of being in DC yesterday…let alone in the former Trump Hotel in the Old Post Office a block from the White House.
But then I got a call from my friend David, who produces shows. He had a lunch gig in DC and he needed some camera help. Was I available? There was a little bit of “Oh please, I hope so in his voice”. I looked at my schedule and said yes I could help him out. The gig actually came and went a couple of times, before it was in ink.
The venue turned out to be the Old Post Office…Trump’s former hotel in DC….Barbara Mikuski was going to be one of the featured speakers. Barbara is a former US Senator from Maryland…Baltimore specifically and she shops for groceries at the same place my wife does. I’ve shot photos & video of her before at events. She has a very deserved reputation as a person who gets things done. (David by the way is also a singer and does a Neil Diamond tribute show…let me know if you want to book him)
When I get there it turns out that former Speaker Pelosi is one of the attendee’s. I discover that news when I see her name on the table as we are setting up. Former Ambassador & Republican Congresswoman Connie Morella is also one of the names on the table. I had met and worked with her years ago and was always impressed by her ability to quote Shakespeare appropriately and accurately. We were able to catch up for a minute and talk about Helen Bentley.
The irony of the moment was not lost on me, as I realized I was in Trumps former DC hotel with these powerful and influential women from Maryland. None of whom were his fans. (Morella has remained a Republican…she told me yesterday, because she hopes that the party can return to something better, that understands compromise & civility). His name was never mentioned once from the podium…or in any conversations I had…except with Ms. Morella when we were talking about Chris Christie on CNN.
This event was for WHAM which is a VERY bi-partisan group that works on Women’s Health Issues. Most of the audience were women. I was honored to have been asked to participate and help document this event for them. Look them up, they are doing excellent work that needs to be done. One of the issues they talked about was dense breasts and the testing for cancer, which insurance doesn’t pay for yet…even though it would save many lives. It has taken them years to get bills passed to help women that seem like they should be slam dunks to me.
When I packed up and left through the lobby, I could see the 4 TV’s over the bar. The headlines were “Trump Arrested…”
I had to sit and watch for a minute. Some applause and cheers broke out in the sun drenched atrium-lobby. There was a huge American flag over our head.
I don’t usually drink in the middle of the day, but I ordered a Corona and toasted the occasion….feeling a little like Forrest Gump…on the edge of history…with a story to share.
Wow, Mike. I love your writings, and this one, with accompanying photos, made me feel the lofty sun-drenched lobby and the muted excitement of the occasion. Thanks, Forrest.
Thank you - so very refreshing!