The moment I had been waiting for for 18 years came for me last night... I finally got to shake the hand of the man I have respected for so long. Al Gore appeared at Bookends, a book store in Ridgewood NJ @ 8PM last night to sign (
http://www.climatecrisis.net)An Inconvenient Truth. I read about it last week and decided that this was my opportunity to finally meet him. I already have a copy of the book and have read it, but I didn't mind buying another one at all knowing he would autograph it for me.
We got to the store around 3:30 PM, and the temperature was at least 107 degrees. How fitting. I bought my book, got my ticket, and was told numbers would be called by 6:30. In that time period I met many good people who I discussed Patriots for Gore with and also this government, Bush, and the climate crisis. When I also told them what we tried to do for Mr. Gore in 2004, the response was very positive. How I then wish we had the means to get it out on a wider scale, but that is water under the bridge now, and we look to the future.
Mr. Gore arrived at the store at 8PM dressed all in black (LOVE that Johnny Cash look, and I was dressed in black as well ;-)) and I managed to get into the store to stand in the front to watch him come by saying hello to everyone. We then had to wait until about 8:20 to have our books signed. He looks very attractive in public and his pictures do not do him justice. He was kind, serene, affable, and just an all around nice man. He is very comfortable in his skin, and I believe truly enjoys what he is doing now. And as the woman I was discussing him with earlier agreed with me about as well, he is too damn good to run for President in this country.
Well, as I made my way down the stairs with my son and husband I could feel my heart racing. After 18 years of supporting, defending, and respecting this man, there he was in front of me... larger than life. The line was moving fast as there were hundreds of people squashed into this hot small store to have him sign their books. They even ran out of books a few minutes before he arrived. So I finally made it to the point where my book was ready to be signed and I handed my manilla envelope with my letters, a PFG button, and a copy of our UN Global Environmental Ambassador petition for him to the staff person. As the book was passed on, I was announced as the "Lady in black." ;-).
And then I got to look into his eyes, and shake his hand. I told him "I'm ____, from Patriots for Al Gore... and you inspire me." He brightened up right away, looked at me, and said, " Oh, thank you!." But it was really my husband who got him to sit up when he asked him if he was going to the Bon Jovi concert at the Meadowlands tonight. ;-) He perked right up and asked where and when. We told him but he said he couldn't make it. Then he shook my son and husband's hands, and I waved goodbye. As I was making my way out the emotions then overtook me and I started to cry. The people I had met and talked with for the five hours before were still waiting to go in and one of them hugged me, and we told them all how nice it was to have met them.
This will be a day that will live in my memory for the rest of my life. And I hope it won't be the last time I get to see this man in person. I'm applying to be one of the thousand people to go to Nashville to learn his slideshow. I am determined to be a part of this mission to get this message out about the climate crisis we face, because it is real and it is urgent. To see the dedication with which he is getting this message out and to see him working so hard signing these thousands of books, I cannot simply sit by and do nothing.
Thank you for being the wonderful man you are, Mr. Gore, and thank you for inspiring me and my family. You made all the hardships I too have faced regarding our endeavors at PFG worthwhile. I got his thanks for all we have done and do, and that is all the validation I need. Now it's time to get to work for our planet.
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