|
|
Republican National Convention
Living the
Dream, Day 5
By Lyn Bliss
I’m tired – I’m coming home!!
But, whee – a ride it’s been! This whole week has FAR exceeded ALL
expectations! I just don’t think that my writings have given any sort
of a full accounting of all the minute by minute things that have
happened.
Right now, the bags are packed and I’m ready to go to the airport –
thought that might be a priority! It was sort of a challenge, as we
were given so many things and I bought a few things, and the bags were
not empty coming down. But, it’s all crammed in and the bags are
sitting by the door. We are to be at the conference center at 12:30 to
be picked up by the bus to the airport. There are a large number of us
going back to Columbus on the same flight.
Yesterday, after being up until well into Thursday morning and having
little sleep, we started with a brunch at the Columbia Restaurant in
Ybor City. It is an old Spanish style establishment that has been one,
if not the, longest existing restaurants in Florida. There were buffets
and bars set up in every room. The food was absolutely outstanding!
Our Darke County Senator Keith Faber was called to podium to speak
about how important it was to defeat ballot issue two and keep our
apportionment board peopled by individuals elected by the residents of
Ohio.
Chairman Bennett introduced our three Republican Supreme Court
Candidates: Justice Robert Cupp, Justice Terrence O’Donnell, and Judge
Sharon Kennedy. Each spoke to the group and explained how they would be
judicial servants and not legislate from the bench.
Justice Cupp introduced the speaker for the morning, Karl Rove (Karl
had introduced Justice Cupp and his wife Libby when they were both
college students). Rove told the Ohio Delegation that the election will
go as Ohio goes and that it will be up to us as to who the next
President of the United States will be. Rove traded good natured
“ribbing” with Chairman Bennett.
Entertainment was provided by a band in one room of the huge restaurant
and also flamenco dancers in the room where the stage was located.
Then, it was back on the bus for a return to our hotel… and what a
trip. It seems our bus experiences have been quite remarkable. After
the three hour trip Tuesday night, we were told that all was well and
any problems had been corrected. What they evidently had forgotten to
tell this bus driver was that buses couldn’t come in the main entrance
to the hotel. We ended up on a bus with its rear end jammed in the
street. We were unloaded and walked to the main building. Not sure how
they ever got it out!
Jean and I sat down to watch some of the re-runs on C-Span. Luckily we
had the foresight to set an alarm. The next thing we both knew the
alarm was ringing while C-span was showing Convention scenes, and we
were both snoozing in the living room!
Went down to the office and printed out our boarding passes for today
and then got ourselves ready to go to the Convention.
Before we left, we were called to the Conference center here at the
hotel and given a briefing on transportation and other items related to
the convention. We were told that all was “ironed out” regarding our
transportation back to the hotel after the close of the Convention. We
were also given specific instructions regarding which buses we were to
look for and where we would find them.
The plan for delivery to the Convention was superb, as it had been all
week. We waited in our air-conditioned bus until the lines to
enter security were down to only a few people. Then we were allowed to
get off the bus and go directly to security, where we always got right
through and on into our seats.
We had made plans to go to the Romney store and then visit the NFRW
Skybox. However, we were told that the floor and first level seating
was likely to be locked down and if we left our area we would not be
allowed back in. So, we all went where we belonged and stayed “put”.
What an outstanding evening it was… Again, Speaker John Boehner called
the session to order. Remarks were given by Connie Mack (Congressman
from Florida), Newt Gingrich (former Speaker of the U.S. House of
Representatives) and his wife Callista, Jeb Bush (Former governor of
Florida), Cathy McMorris Rogers (Congresswoman from Washington), Bob
White (National Chairman of the Romney-Ryan Campaign), Kierry Healey
(Former Lt. Governor of Massachusetts), Jane Edmonds (Former Secretary
of Workforce Development in Massachusetts), and Marco Rubio (Senator
from Florida).
A star-studded lineup of Olympic Champions who had represented the USA
was introduced and gave remarks. There were some tears evident in
fellow attendees’ eyes as their stories were told.
A special treat was the appearance of Clint Eastwood. He was most
entertaining with an imaginary conversation with President Obama. And,
of course he had to give famous “Go ahead, make my day” line!
Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney gave remarks and was very
moving. It was a very good insight into the man and his beliefs,
qualities and qualifications that will all affect the job he will do as
President of the United States of America. Again, there were damp eyes
several times during the speech.
The balloon and confetti release was something to behold. Have watched
it on TV many times, have seen pictures of it and been told about it.
There is nothing that can prepare a person for the actual event!!
One of the attached pictures shows my response to the confetti!
Then, it was back to the buses… well, I will just say that maybe the
plan did not go as we were led to believe. It was about 1:45 by the
time we got back to the hotel. We went up to the patio where a huge
screen had been put up and we had some hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
Into bed a little after 3 a.m. and back up this a.m. to pack.
We’ll be off to the airport shortly and I’ll be home to Ohio with
fantastic memories of my dream come true!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
