From the road…
I am downloading from the camcorder all of my video from the past two days… I sometimes review the clips as I’m downloading, just to make sure of the ones I had doubts about for sound, lighting, etc… the subjects of my annoying video intrusions will be happy to know the shots look great and that you can trust me in editing decisions.. heh heh.. (yes, Andrea is on the clip list 🙂
So I was looking over a clip from the Abilene stop, one which began with the announcer starting his intro of Debbie Lee and Benjamin Smith, and I found a moment on my videotape that just about stopped my heart. I am not certain anyone really recognized it when it happened.
in fact I’ve just gone upstairs and reviewed it again to be sure, before I tell it here. Here’s what is on my clip from the Abilene stop of TPX-IV:
The announcer was explaining the tradition, begun in WWII, of a candle in the window that signified a member of the household was away serving in wartime. He went on to say that when the candle was extinguished and a star put in its place, it signified that the person who was away would not be coming back home.
my camcorder was panning the front row of the audience as the announcer spoke, and in the center of the frame was an elderly woman.
After he described the meaning of the star in the window, she nodded and carefully held up three fingers.
The fine folks you meet…
During the Tea Party Express rally in Little Rock last evening, a young man approached us with an offer to help us battle the bad guys in Washington. Robert Estes is the owner of Estes Grading & Trucking in Southhaven Mississippi. His offer? To fuel up all three buses, on his dime.
When we rolled into his yard this morning, it was raining, but Robert and his mom Ann’s smiles were bright as sunshine. Not only did they offer to fill our tanks, they made sure each bus had a pastry box filled with iced doughnuts and pastries. Fine people.
Meet Robert Estes and his Mom Ann. Ann is a retired school teacher who taught English for more than 20 years. Besides being a business owner, Robert is a writer who derives great satisfaction from putting fingers to the keyboard and typing out his thoughts on the political landscape. Here’s a sample of Robert’s writing that he was kind enough to share with us:
“For people who have opposed the policies and maneuvers of this administration, they have been labeled every name in the book including the word ‘radical’. The only radical or extreme change that the people want is for the administration to uphold the constitution , just like it is written, and stop trying to toss it in the trash as an old piece of paper, and discard every law and principle that has made America the great nation that it is.”
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Bob from Alamagordo!
One of the nice things about traveling the country is the opportunity it gives me to meet many of my readers or listeners (or both!) of my radio show. Yesterday, listener “Bob from Alamagordo” found us at the Texas Speedway in Kennedale. It was a happy occasion, and we even telephoned his cousin Marie in New York who is also a regular listener.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to enjoy the entire rally with Bob LaRosa, as our bus had to leave for an unscheduled “whistlestop” in Mt. Pleasant immediately after I spoke. Later that afternoon, my cell phone rang. It was Bob, telling me to look out the front windshield. Ahead of us was Bob’s green Mustang. “I had to drive 600 miles to catch up to you, but I did!” he laughed. Bob was on his way to Little Rock to visit family.
Thanks for coming out Bob! It was a pleasure meeting you too!
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TPX IV Viewership Up!
Keep spreading the word. We’re bringing this thing home to victory on the 2nd! Read more interesting items about the Tea Party Express national tour at ThirdWaveDave’s.
