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Blog Entry 69 of 76 Awake Thou That Sleepest, Arise From Your Slumber

I am a seeker of truths. I am a soul who has been "awakened" and now an awakener of other souls. Two years ago, something happened to me that I can only explain as a kind of "awakening" from a haze that was my everyday life. The embers of "who I was was" that stirred deep within me were set aflame when I went to see a movie. I wasn't expecting this experience, which is why in part I think it happened. I left the theatre crying and with the most throbbing headache I've ever had, but not the average kind of headache crying gives you. This was the kind of headache characters in movies have after waking up from a coma. The world seemed new to me and it was as if I was remembering my life and who I was for the very first time. Since then, my life has changed in so many ways. And now it has led me here, to this new forum of shared thoughts and ideas. Like the first time I posted my "awakening" experience on a public website, I am again feeling this fear of "Is this really the right place for me to post this?" But like two years ago, I'm willing to take this risk again because I know how important it is to share my experience with as many people as I can, with the hope that others who have had a similar experience, or at least the desire to understand more about what this is about might have the courage to come together and find one another through this blog. It is my hope and belief that I will read the stories of others who are also "seekers" here. Welcome.

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The Day I Shook Barack Obama's Hand

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Contributed by: Dianne Perea on 7/6/2008

Barack Obama was coming to my home town, Colorado Springs, Colorado. It had only been two days earlier that I learned this news. He was here to do fund raising, but also to talk to an invitation-only crowd of people in a city that is known for its conservatism, large military presence, and fundamental Christian population. I told myself I had 48 hours to find an invitation. My efforts to contact people began instantly. My tenacity was relentless but no amount of persistence seemed to change the responses I was getting, which were, "I'm sorry, I want to help but I simply can't."

The day of the event arrived and I still did hot have an invitation to the event. That particular day of work, my boss told me to dress down because we'd be getting carpets ready for cleaning. Readying my hair, I looked at myself in the mirror and that's when the conversation with myself began. "Dianne, you aren't giving up now, are you?!" " Why in God's name should I have any hope left at all? Today's the day of the event, I don't even know what time he's speaking, I don't have an invitation, and anyone who's connected with the event is certainly not sitting at a desk thinking about contacting me!" I shouted back at myself. "Dianne...has Barack taught you nothing at all about hope?" I retorted. So, without a reason for hoping, I began to once again. I decided I better take to work with me a nice dress, shoes and jewelry, just in case. I then called for my girls. "Girls! Guess what? I'm going to see Barack Obama today!" I must have been quite convincing because my 10-year-old said "Oh my gosh, Mom! When did you get a invitation!" I enthusiastically said, "I didn't!" Her face fell. "Thennnn, how are you going to see him today?" I told them, "Because I just am, that's how!" Oh, how the grins returned to their faces, for they knew what Mommy was up to. "Now I want you to say,'Mommy is going to see Barack Obama today!' three times.
They said, "Mommy is going to see Barack Obama today. Mommy is going to see Barack Obama today. MOMMY IS GOING TO SEE BARACK OBAMA TODAY." I thanked them and said, "There, now it's TRIPLE stamped!

I drove to work, with my dress confidently riding in back, and arrived in Manitou Springs at 9 a.m. My boss knew how disappointed I was to not be attending the event, so she began to console me by telling me about the other times I might be able to see him. I tried to remain upbeat as the minutes ticked by. By 10 a.m. and no miracle in sight, I admit, I was even worrying about the triple stamp.

But then....

A call came in at 10:15. a.m. It was a woman whom I had been e-mailing back and forth about the event. She had been so very kind and helpful to me, even though getting me an invitation was beyond her abilities. She simply said, "Dianne, OK, here's the deal. He's speaking at UCCS at 11:00 a.m. When you get there, you can try to get in on a stand by basis (there is only room for 400). But you better go right now." I thanked her profusely and then did a "Superman" quick change and was out the door.

I got to UCCS, they showed me where to park, I walked right toward where the event was and told the security I was on stand by. With no hassle, they gave me a ticket to fill out. It was totally surreal. My hands were trembling. Security wanded me over and then said "Go right on in, Miss." It just couldn't be true, but there I was, at the event. I found one lone seat in the far back. When he came out, my entire body got goose bumps. His speech was outstanding. My eyes and ears drank in every precious moment. Afterwards, he moved to the inner circle of the crowd. I'm not really sure how I did this, but I snaked my way near the front where he was shaking people's hands. I think it way my height that helped me out. As he got nearer to me, I stretched out my hand as far as it could go. He saw my arm first, then me. Then took my hand and shook it. I looked him straight in the eye and said "Hello, I'm Dianne Perea." He said, "It's nice to meet you, Dianne." And off he went. My final act was to shout out, "Are you going to the top of Pikes Peak?" His eyes twinkled, but he stayed focused on who he was meeting and on his momentum toward others.

Seeing Obama and shaking his hand was the most exhilarating experience of my life. He is bright, warm, magnetic, inspirational, and has those eyes that say "I really want to be here, I really want to engage with you, I really want to help all of you." There is nothing "politician" like about him. I can see why he is so good at community organization. He draws you in and instantly ignites a passion inside you to be a part of something larger than you, something that seems impossible but made probable because of the efforts of the people. He makes you want to be a part of a movement that is changing the world for the better. He makes you want to be the best you you can be.

July 2 will be forever known as Barack Obama day for me. When I talk to my kids about this, I tell them the moral of the story is treat everyone kindly, no matter what, because that's just the right way to be. And never give up your hope.

To the forces and the people that made this happen, I thank you a thousand times. I am so grateful. I hope to pay this forward in a big way someday.

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Submitted By: Dianne Perea

posted on 7/9/2008 @ 4:28:25 AM

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Earl, you are true blue! Thank you for sharing in my enthusiasm! It was the most incredible day, and I wanted to share it with everyone, but mostly the people I knew and cared about. So happy to see a post from you. It's getting kinda rough out there now. You take care, Earl. Keep writing. You're a great talent. Dianne

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Submitted By: Earl Chang

posted on 7/8/2008 @ 7:36:16 PM

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Way to persist in your efforts Dianne! Where there's a will, there's a way. Glad you got to meet someone you have so much admiration for. You may have shook hands with out next President! :0

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