One Degree of Separation from Oprah, Two from Obama

Sam Perry and Me
Originally uploaded October 2005 by GraceD

While the Hubs and I were weeping and clutching each other at the magic hour of 8pm on election night, the hour when the California polls closed and the networks could safely announce that Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States, we also watched Oprah Winfrey at the Chicago victory party, weeping and clutching the shoulders of a familiar guy.

Me: Um, look! Is that...?

Hubs: Yeah! We know him!

Me: No, do we? Am I too high?

Hubs: Yes you are! But, we know him!

And, then - IT'S SAM!

Whaddaya know, it was the fabulous Sam Perry, former Digital Media Reuters Fellow at Stanford, journalist, tech-mentor, and all around nice guy who was letting Oprah snork her nose on his shirt.

He was also adjacent to the sobbing Jesse Jackson, though I don't think Reverend Jackson had to hang on to Sam's shoulders for support.  Not that Sam wouldn't let him, he's so nice, but it was probably some man thing on the Reverend's part.

I'm really pissed at myself because for once, as a citizen journalist, I could have scooped the mainstream media on a nationwide story:  Apparently there was a coast to coast search as to who Sam was -

"Friends called me around the country and said, 'Who was with you?' and I said, 'I don't know him, but he was very nice to me,'" Oprah says. "At one point I was just sobbing on his shoulder, mascara everywhere."

"Thank you, Mr. Man, for letting me cry on your shoulder."

Mr. Man Sam Perry will be making an appearance tomorrow on Oprah and all I can say is that he better score some well deserved major bling in his goodies bag from the show.

In other news, didn't election night feel like New Years Eve? And, yesterday New Year's Day? Like everything is renewed, fresh and clean and there's electric energy in the air?

I'm eager to get this New Era going.

Comments

[Don]

All my best wishes to President Elect Obama. He's my President too and I pray that he does well for all of us.

[Rhi]

I wondered who that was! And, so did Bill (my boyfriend) he said, "Is that Stedman!?

To which I rolled my eyes. How can he not know who Stedman is!

[Julie]

I wonder why she wasn't snotting on Stedman's shirt? I saw them together before Obama showed up.

[Janet]

It did feel that way and seeing Jesse Jackson cry made me tear up.

[Barbara]

I have post-election syndrome! I am still reading everything, and crying at snippets on the radio, and talking in circles. I think I'm in giddy, giddy shock.

[Stan Schwarz]

On the day after election day I hung my laundry out to dry. Even though it's November, I knew that the sun would be shining just a little bit brighter.

[V. Parlant]

Grace, you got your scoop. I credited you and Jory Des Jardins of BlogHer for identifying Sam Perry late Tuesday night. :-)

But, you know, the big newspaper has the credit now. Well, they did give more details.

[Lin]

Next thing I know you'll be shopping for Inaugural Ball gowns!!!

[Astrogirl426]

And in the midst of all the joy of having a new president (yay Obama!), a meme. Because you love them! And you are weird! :) Just like me.

Anyway, no pressure. Here is the info if you feel like it (the little award pic is quite cute): http://astrogirl426.blogspot.com/2008/11/weird-and-wonderful.html

[Glennia]

I saw that and recognized the blonde standing next to them and shouted to my hubs, "Hey! I know her!" Hubs said, "Is that her husband?" I said, "No. No idea who that guy is. Maybe he's with Oprah."

Now we know. He's with GRACE! Who is even cooler than Oprah!

[pam]

Me, too, Grace. I've been walking around in a daze this week. Chomping the bit now, waiting for January.

This is what I'd say to Mr. Obama if I met him (cribbed directly from the Flickr group Message For Obama):

"You won the popularity contest - now do the *right thing* even if it's not the popular thing. Democracy is only mob rule at the beginning."

[Elizabeth]

It DID feel like New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day, and since the election, every day feels a bit like Christmas. I had stopped listening to any kind of presidential speech. I never believed a word that came out of Mr. Bush's mouth, so I just stopped listening.

President-elect Obama makes me want to start listening again. And I'm not afraid to admit it, I think he's cute, too :)