A week or so ago, Barack Obama, the President of the United States, made a speech in El Paso, Texas on immigration reform. As soon as he could do so, the President got out of El Paso and headed for Austin, the state capitol of Texas. He planned to attend a fund raiser in that city. As you know, a lot are Texans are well-heeled. Judy and I made one trip to El Paso and pronounced that one trip was enough. In fact, one trip was more than enough.
For reasons that we will not go into here, the fact is that my daughter and her husband and children reside in Austin, the Lone Star capitol.
Originally it was contemplated that my daughter Suzanne and her husband, Carl Sheppard, would attend the fund raiser for Mr. Obama. As the time drew close to the date of the fund raiser, it was necessary for my son-in-law to make a trip to China. And so it was determined that my daughter would be escorted by her son, named John Eammon, to the fund raiser.
There is very little use in my attempting to describe the subsequent activities because an email exists which details the events in full. Here is the email from Suzanne, my daughter:
Well we don’t have the pictures yet but Jack got to meet Obama!
They had people moving lickety split thru the line – Obama standing in front of a big flag in a small room, bright lights, shake hands, pose and smile, and move along.
When it was our turn I pushed Jack in front of me to go forward by himself. Obama said, “Well hello young man. What’s your name?”
“Jack, sir.”
“Well, Jack, how old are you?”
“Thirteen, sir.”
“Thirteen, that’s how old my daughter Malia is! And is this your mom, Jack? How about we get a picture of just you and me first, ok?”
“Ok, now let’s get one with your mom. Alright, good to meet you.”
[I prompt Jack to give his message.]
And Jack looks right at Obama and says clearly,
“Thank you for being our President.”
Obama smiles and says, “Well you’re welcome.”
Obama’s speech after the photos was well delivered, he was relaxed and funny, talked about not sacrificing the country’s future to cut the deficit and the need to end the tax cuts.
We had a good time.
As you can see, my grandson Jack had a conversation with the President of the United States. I have not had a full report on Jack’s reaction to this encounter with Barack Obama but I assume that it was positive. In the future when I call to speak with Mr. John Eamonn Sheppard I will know that I am speaking to a big shot.
Jack is very democratic about his contacts with Obama and I am sure that he will speak to me in his usual fashion.
John Eamonn, alias Jack, is a special child and we hope to include the photograph of Jack talking to the President (if we receive it in time). If in the future I am ever able to attain a grand office such as President, I will see to it that I have my picture taken with Jack Sheppard.
Judy and I are very pleased that Barack Obama conversed with our grandson. Obama is a decent man and I hope that as Jack grows older, he will use Obama as a role model.
E. E. CARR
May 14. 2011
Essay 567(?)
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Kevin’s commentary: The person who takes Pop’s dictations misspelled my last name. I feel that said misspelling is highly unfortunate but I will leave it as-is because I am just that committed to publishing Ezra’s Essays as they are. Even when they butcher a perfectly good last name that can be looked up in the dictionary, or the Bible even. Ugh.
Jack’s real name was also misspelled but that’s okay too. Proper nouns are difficult.
Finally, here’s the picture with mom too, just for fun:
