I Should've Waved

True story.

When I was 12, President Clinton signed a medical research bill into effect. My family was asked to attend the press conference, representing an NF2 group (if you're new to my blog and don't know what NF2 is, check out my archives).

We agreed, of course, and off we went to the White House. Of the hundred-plus people there, my sister (age 9), brother (age 7) and I were the only kids.

Since Dad was deaf, he and Mom were seated up front with a sign language interpreter. My family wasn't important enough to merit five seats up front, though, so my siblings and I were seated off to the side of the room, with promises of McDonalds if we behaved (mostly directed towards my brother).

Apparently three kids sitting with no visible adult supervision during a White House press conference is not an everyday sight. We drew more than a few stares from the assembled reporters as we sat waiting patiently for things to get started. Both of the speakers before President Clinton pretty much ignored us after an initial glance or two.

Clinton, though, was less focused. He kept looking over at the three of us throughout his speech -- so much so that several family friends who had watched the press conference on tv just because my family was there later commented that Clinton seemed to have been distracted by something. We were all perfect angels throughout the press conference, though. Not our fault he couldn't stop gawking.

So, I have officially distracted a President of the United States. How many people can say that? Besides Monica Lewinsky, anyway.