Our nations capital

[DavidMn]

I've always wanted to share this story, and I figured now would be as good a time as any. Back a few years ago, i got a chance to know my congressman that represents the 3rd district in Minnesota Jim Ramstad. He would come into the gas station I work in near Minneapolis and we'd just shoot the ****. He is a republican, but a very open minded one. Anyway, my dad used to be a cop in Golden Valley, a suburb. And I asked Jim if he knew my dad, because before he went to the U.S House, he was a state senator from Gloden VAlley. To my surprise he knew my dad very well, so we hit it off and talked every weekend when Jim would come back from Washington for the weekend. Well one Saturday I was lamenting to Jim that I'd been out to D.C as an 18 year old in 1989,and that I regretted very much that I didnt get a chance to see the Declaration Of Independence and the Constitution in the Archives. He asked if I was planning a trip, and I said I'd love to go out there again. He wrote a number down and said it was for his chief of staff and to call with the details of when I was coming and theyd set everything up for me. Now I know that congresspeople do these sorts of things for constituents, but there was a little bonus. So I go out there in late April 2001, and I got a tour of the fbi, a VIP tour of the White House, which meant me and like 3 other people from Minnesota got escorted into the white house by a Secret Service agent with a REALLY BIG gun,and got a personalized tour. That was phenominal. But Jim saved the best for last. On my last day there, he told me he wanted to take me out to lunch and to show up at his office at 11:45. I did figuring wed be going to a ncie lunch somewhere. SO we left his office and I asked Jim where we were going for lunch. He said "You'll see" and as we walked into the Capitol building, ai looked at him and said "I dont understand." He said how'd you like to have lunch with me in the MEMBER'S DINING ROOM!!!!!!! I was floored. I never saw that one coming at all. I wore a nice outfit thank god, but I still felt like a total hayseed in the presence of these power brokers. Then came the best part. We go to get seated at our table, and who's sitting with us? Oh only Hilary Clinton, Tom Daschle, and Chuck Schumer. I didn't dare say a word unless I was spoken to. SO i listened to their conversation as the meal progressed. It was fascinating to say the least. Finally, near the end of Lunch, Jim introduced me to the 3 of them by saying "guys, I want you to meet my friend from Minnesota, David." ANd I got to shake all of their hands. They were all very interesting, but when Jim intorduced me to Hilary I was truly humbled. I mean I got to meet a frst lady!!!! Cameras werent allowed in there, So I didnt get a picture, and I was too overwhelmed to ask for an autograph, but who knows, maybe I shook the hand of a future president? So after everything was said and done, Jim took me out onto the Capitol steps and a photagrapher was waiting for us and took our Pictures with the Capitol and the flag in the background. I knwo I hear alot of stories about politicians that are greedy money grubbers, but I wanted to point out that there are still a few the still genuinely care about people. Hope you all enjoyed the story.