Well, I’ve given a lot of parties in my time…but our Cleveland inaugural ball was the best. Not because I did a good job, but because everyone who attended was so into it.
A sold-out, sold-out crowd (that means a sell out) came to say “Toodle-oo ‘W”/Howdy-Do Obama,” and they did it with flair. We didn’t even have to clean up…the guests took everything—from the centerpieces and the Obama and Bush water bottles that adorned each table to the signs in the restrooms that proclaimed that Joe the Plumber was “on-call” by phoning 1-800-McCain.
Guests were asked to dress in their star-spangled best and for some this meant digging out old lapel pins (a VOTE NIXON and a PEROT pin were spotted...who keeps this stuff??). For others it meant buying something that screamed Obama—from his face on the back of a shirt or jacket to t-shirts with sayings like, “We are one nation, we are one people and our time for change has come.”
There were party favors, lots of them, but Obama’s face-on-a-stick became the prop of props. Souvenir photo strips became real memorabilia as guests used Obama as a friend and even a lover (kiss kiss). A sight to see.
And I learned something. A party with a cause célèbre is an instant success no matter what you do. Thank you, Mr. Obama, for a reason to party. And YES WE DID!
The Party Girl
