Inside the gymnasium at Michelle Obama's rally
For those of you who are avid readers, I apologize for not writing for the past couple of days. You’ll be excited to know that it’s because I have been working non-stop. We only have 9 days left!!!
I saw Michelle Obama yesterday at a rally here in Columbus, OH. It was a magical afternoon- chilly outside and the leaves were full-blown Fall. I illegally parked behind a coffee shop, bought myself a soy latte (it’s been so long!), and headed over. Because I have been working with the people who were running this event, I was able to get in on the back end of the rally and had a RIDICULOUS view of the stage.
It was inspiring and chilling to be there. To be passing out the “Obama/Biden” signs and literally be SWAMPED by rally attendees who were clamoring for the opportunity to proudly display the name of their preferred leader– it was overwhelming. They danced in the halls and danced in the bleachers and danced and danced and danced.
Michelle didn’t say anything I haven’t heard. It was that she said it in ways I haven’t heard it. She is so FIERCE. She commands attention and it is so clear upon hearing her words how magical a family the Obamas are. She spoke as a mother of two beautiful girls. As a daughter of a working man who suffered from M.S. early in his life. As someone who came from modest means and failed- only to keep trying and keep truckin’ along.
Michelle Obama in Ohio
After she spoke, and descended the stage, I was literally inches from her. And I thought to myself… THIS is why I am on this journey. And instead of waiting around to shake her hand and meet her- I headed right back to the office to make phone calls and change hearts and minds.
And I think I’ve been doing that a lot lately. Which is an incredibly rewarding experience to have. To have someone pick up the phone or come to the door and tell me they are undecided and by the end of our conversation- to have them swayed. To have them willing to vote for the man I know will lead this country to the better and brighter future that we need.
I had a conversation with a woman who was pro-life and though we were two women of very different ages and different upbringings- I was able to sway her. I was able to focus her attention on the problems we BOTH agreed on- that the number of unwanted pregnancies needs to be reduced. I was literally pulling a page right out of Barack Obama’s play book. And she listened. And she shared her concerns. And I shared with her my beliefs and my story. And it changed her mind. I hung up the phone and was literally shaking. My face had grown warm and my cheeks blushed and I didn’t even realize it until after I was off the phone.
I’ve been walking through incredibly poor areas of this city and been greeted by gnarling dogs, homes that are only occupied by the stray cat on the porch, and foreclosure sign after foreclosure sign. And on these streets, the people are mad. And the people don’t trust the government. And the people are sick of other people telling them what they should do. And as I said before in an earlier blog… if they get out and vote… McCain will have no chance.
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Janelle K. Eagle is infamous for always having her hands tied up in multiple projects simultaneously. She's directed a lot of theater, worked on some films, and raised lots of money for non-profits. She travels all the time and loves to share her videos, photography and writing via this blog. 
I think I’m gonna write a song, “I’ve got a crush on Michelle Obama”