Photos/ SANDY FITZGERALD
"Hey, doesn't that lady know that we're watching her, too?" I'm not sure that it was altogether proper of me to take photos of the Secret Service agents in the hillsides of Jefferson County with a telephoto lens but it was fun. And of course, at the top left is Barack Obama, visiting the hills of Jefferson County. Who would have thought it?
THIS PAST Wednesday afternoon, I did something new - I saw a presidential candidate up close.
And since my co-workers and family are getting pretty tired of me talking so much about it, I'll tell all of you.
I was one of the hoards of media who flocked out to Ray Piergallini's farm outside Smithfield to see Barack Obama and hear what he had to say.
While what he said was pretty close to his Democratic National Convention speech - in other words, really nothing new or locally connected, the five or so hours I spent in the hills of Jefferson County were hours I wouldn't trade for anything else.
That's because I saw, up close, just what goes on behind the scenes of those events most people just watch on television.
The first thing I observed was the presence of Secret Service agents.
Now, this isn't the first famous person I've been around. While I'm still relatively new here in Cadiz, I've worked at several area newspapers. I've been around famous people - including politicians.
I interviewed Janet Reno in Wheeling; my brother's best high school friend is Sen. Jay Rockefeller's aide.
I've seen the Secret Service.
But in this case, while I knew they would be present, I guess I was a little taken aback.
The men around Sen. Obama were, as you would expect, larger men who could probably kill a person with one swift move.
However, there were younger people as well, and you could tell them by their dark suits, great sunglasses and the earphones.
And even the tiny little one standing by where the local press was cordoned off - I have no doubt she could take me down without even breaking a sweat.
There were agents in the hills, on the perimeter, and where there were no agents, there were local sheriff's deputies, on foot, on horseback.
The Franklin County Bomb Squad was there as well.
The security started when you first walked to the site. Once I got my press badge and visited with some of my local press colleagues, we were let in.
It looked like a regular sign-in table. But it wasn't.
People like me, with a camera and big lens, were told to turn on the camera, put it down on the table, and shoot a couple of shots.
Cell phones were also checked out, and then everyone got waved down with a metal detectorand then let in.
For awhile, the media was allowed to mingle freely, like normal people. Then, when the invited guests started arriving, we were cordoned into a roped-off area.
Hey! I'm not the paparazzi! Let me out!
(Oops, a little left over claustraphobia there.)
It took a while before Sen. Obama arrived, but the people there were more than happy to chat about their hopes for the future and their excitement over the event.
Kind of made me wonder if some committee somewhere told them to talk to anyone with a press badge - but that was okay. I'm a local girl.
Which brings me to the national media. I'm sure there are some nice people who work for the big guys - but I've never really met one. I don't think you can be nice and be on that level.
So, therefore, I had a real sense of mean glee when I heard them grumbling about not being able to get a cell phone signal.
Hey, guys, welcome to our world!
Overall, despite your political beliefs (and I'm not telling mine, because that's between me and the poll booth) everyone who has the opportunity to see and hear a presidential candidate in person should take every opportunity to do so.
It's history in the making and something to tell your grandchildren, whether that candidate wins or loses.
And if John McCain comes to Scio or New Athens, or maybe even to Cadiz - I'll be there to take a lot of pictures and listen to him too.
I just hope that the promises these men are making are kept. This country and its people sure could use a break.
