16 Minutes with First Lady Michelle Obama Part 2
MEETING #2 – 30 seconds
The next night was the State Dinner. I was so excited to attend. I really did not know what to expect. I just heard from all sorts of people that this was the hottest ticket in DC.
I picked up Alice from the Airport and then back to the hotel where we got gussied up.
Both April Holmes and the First Lady were right.
[image-shortcode url=”https://johnregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/first-lady-part-02-02.jpg” size=”33″ caption=”John and Alice on the Truman Balcony.”]
Alice looked stunning in the dress she selected. I dressed up in my contemporary tux and put on the new tux shoes I purchased earlier that day.
The reason I mentioned the shoes because they were really slippery and with my artificial limb I had a phobia that I would be in the receiving line and be just about shake the Presidents hand and my foot was slide out from under me on one of those nice expensive rugs.
Can anyone say LifeAlert! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!
We jumped in a cab and headed over the 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The street was jammed packed with cars! We jumped out of the cab about two blocks from the East Side entrance. As we walked down the street a young couple asked us what was going on. And like little kids we said that there was a State Dinner in honor of the British Prime Minister and we were actually invited!
[image-shortcode url=”https://johnregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/first-lady-part-02-03.jpg” size=”33″ align=”right” caption=”Idris Elba stops in the East Wing in the White House for a photo with Alice.”]
Alice and I went through the first level of security and guess what? (What John?) Our names were not on the list. So, we were stopped by White House security with about 9 other guest in a waiting area all of those guest assured us that it would only be a few minutes. We stayed in the penalty box for about 20 minutes and then were cleared to enter the East Wing of the White House. At least we were not the last ones in the penalty box.
Upon entering the East Wing we stepped up to get our name tint for our table and to announce our entry to the press corps. But low and behold our names were not there either! So, we were asked to wait again.
The sweat was beginning to roll down the small of my back because I thought this was going in the direction of ala (Tareq and Michele Salahi).
I’m thinking of a line from Eddie Murphy’s Beverly Hills Cop when the LA Police officer state, “We’re not going to fall for the banana in the tail pipe again.”
To make a long story short. We were not even on the this list either! The social secretary thought that we had regretted the invitation. Come to find out there was another John Register who had been to the White House who received my printed invite. You see, I had accepted the email invite and four days later this other
[image-shortcode url=”https://johnregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/first-lady-part-02-04.jpg” size=”33″ caption=”Alice meets President Barack H. Obama.”]
John Register regretted the printed invitation. I would have loved to see what would have happened if we both had shown up!
I would have been like Slim Shady!
‘Cause I’m JReg, yes I’m the real Reg
All you other JReggies are just limp veggies
So won’t the real John Register please stand up, please stand up, please stand up?
Taken of course with liberties from Eminens’ “Slim Shady” Rap.
Meanwhile, while we are waiting for it to get all sorted out up walks Idris Elba (Movie Star) and Alice begins to flip out because she wants a photo. Mr. Elba is looking at us like I think you all might be the Salahi’s and I really don’t want to come over to your holding pen. But he was gracious enough and obliged my wife the photo.
The social secretary finally sorted it all out and we were able to get in.
In the receiving line I let Alice go first. She shook the hand of President Obama who told her that she looked wonderful and beautiful.
[image-shortcode url=”https://johnregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/first-lady-part-02-05.jpg” size=”33″ align=”right” caption=”John meets President Barack Obama.”]
I looked at the floor to see what type of carpet I was about to step on.
I then shook the hand of the President. And he greeted me with that classic smile of his. We exchange some quick pleasantries.
I then saw caught the First Ladies eye who looked at me and must have put two and two together that the lady in front of me was my wife and she remembered our conversation from the previous day and in a down to earth voice told Alice, “Girl, I heard about the issues you were having with finding your dress. But you look lovely!”
Now that is just too cool. Of all the people the First Lady meets, for her to remember a detail like that is just remarkable. Again, down to earth and genuine… (cool, like the other side of the pillow) – aka @Stuart Scott
16 Minutes with First Lady Michelle Obama! Part 1
MEETING #1 – 6 minutes
(FLOTUS) Speaks to youth on getting more active at American University. I’m far left next to Mrs. Benita Mosely
First of all, if you do not want to read any further, I just want to say we have a beautiful, classy, warm-hearted and down-to-earth First Lady in Michelle Obama. To coin a phrase from one of my favorite sports commentator Stuart Scott, she’s just, “Cool, like the other side of the pillow.”
To say I was ecstatic to receive an assignment from my employer, the United States Olympic Committee, to lead a group of Paralympic Ambassadors and assist in the First Lady’s Let’s Move initiative at American University in Washington, D.C., would be an understatement. The fact that both Mrs. Obama and Samantha Cameron (affectionately known as Sam Cam) who is the British Prime Minister’s wife would be in attendance was the real crown.
[image-shortcode url=”https://johnregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/first-lady-01-02.jpg” size=”50″ align=”right”]
The event was star-studded. I mean we had 80 phenomenal kids from the great states of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia coupled with amazing athletes like Benita Fitzgerald Mosely (100m Hurdle Champ 1984 Olympic Games) Dan O’Brien (Olympic Champion Decathlon); Lisa Leslie (4x Olympic Gold Medalist basketball); April Holmes (100m Paralympic Champion); Dominique Dawes (The darling of the 1996 Olympic Gymnastics Team); and Kortney Clemons (Paralympic hopeful and Purple Heart Recipient from the War on Iraq); who all volunteered their time to challenge these youth to inspire others to become more active.
And while President Barack Obama and SamCam’s husband, Prime Minister David Cameron, were enjoying an awkward hot dog at the opening of the final four basketball game, we (Olympians and Paralympians) were in the gym at American University leading 80 rambunctious kids through various sports stations.
My day was going great! A) All my athletes were at the gym and on time, and B) I was paired with the amazing Lisa Leslie at the Basketball station.
Decathlete Dan O’Brien escorted Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Cameron through the various sports stations and after the First Ladies were finished with their tour, Dan then called each of us working the stations to come to be introduced.
[image-shortcode url=”https://johnregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/first-lady-01-03.jpg” size=”50″ caption=”JR and Lisa Leslie”]
It was Lisa and my turn to meet Mrs. Obama.As I made my way to her I could not help but notice how long, lean and graceful the First Lady is. She is very comfortable in who she is.
Dan introduced Lisa and Mrs. Obama quickly started spilling stats on Lisa to Mrs. Cameron.
Now that’s just cool.
She then looked to me for verification of the facts and though I followed Lisa Leslie’s career, I don’t know all her stats, but like the Eurythmics song, “Sweet Dreams are Made of This,” lyrics state, “Who am I to disagree.”
Mrs. Obama then introduced herself to me. “Hi, I’m Mrs. Michelle Obama (or something of that effect.)
In my mind I was saying, “Like I don’t know who you are.” I was so honored and humbled I could barely remember my own name!
The mood was so warm at that moment and her personality had put me at ease that I decided to tell her about some of the issues I was having.
You see my wife Alice and I were invited to the President’s State Dinner in honor of the Cameron’s visit to America. The official welcome was the next day. I joked with April (the 100m dash champ from Beijing) the day before that Alice had so many dresses in the closet that she could pick from a bunch she had not worn. April looked at me like I was a cross-eyed Billy goat. She obviously did not think that was funny.
April and my conversation went something like this.
April: “Are you really going to allow Alice to come meet the First Lady with something she has hanging in the closet.”
John: “Well, since you put it that way, and with that attitude, and with your neck moving like that, I guess my answer is no.”
So, having that conversation in the back of my mind I greeted the Mrs. Obama. The following is only my recollection of how our short conversation went. It is NOT verbatim.
John: “It is an honor to meet you and thank you for this initiative that is getting kids active.”
Mrs. Obama: “Well, thank all of you for being such strong role models for these youth!”
(She then gave me a big hug)
John: “Our pleasure Ma’am. My wife and I are also looking forward to coming to your little shindig tomorrow night in honor of the Prime Minister and Mrs. Cameron.
Mrs. Obama: “We are so looking forward to it as well. I think it is going to be a great time and we certainly look forward to seeing you there.
John: “You know First Lady you’re setting me back a bit because I have to give the debit card to my wife to buy a new dress. And, she is having problems finding something that works in our budget!”
It was then that I wanted to say in comedian Kevin Hart fashion, “You see my checking account is tied to my savings account…”
To which Mrs. Obama just let out a laugh and a big smile.
Mrs. Obama: “I am sure she will be lovely!”
We had some more pleasant words after that but I don’t remember the rest of the conversation.
Now I don’t know if I should count this next meeting as a second meeting or a continuation of the first meeting? You tell me?
[image-shortcode url=”https://johnregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/first-lady-01-04.jpg” size=”33″ align=”center” caption=”JR and FLOTUS backstage Let’s Move”]
After the remarks the athletes were taken for official photos by the White House photographer with Mrs. Obama. We exchanged a few more cordial words and I reassured her I would see her the next evening.