Let's go down to...

Wonderful Husband’s boss is extremely involved in politics and always has tickets to this, a table at that. WH sometimes offers us up to fill a seat or use tickets when extras are available. He thinks it will be “fun.” I tend to think these events are a form of cruel and unusual punishment.

Contrary to popular belief, most political events aren’t fun. Seeing a candidate you really like at his only stop in town might be enjoyable, going to a political event a few times a year might be invigorating, attending these events a few times a month – not so much fun. When you frequent these events you start to hear the same speech, no matter who the speaker; see the same yucky political hacks smoozing it up- sometimes remembering you, sometimes not depending on their needs; eat the same crappy hotel chicken; have the same conversations with the people who attend every single one of these things ; debate the same people on why you think Kerry is not going to win in your state – it is a conservative place, it isn’t happening. I could go on and on.

Last night I got “the” call around 5:30 as I was leaving work. “My boss isn’t going to X and really wants the seats to be used. He offered them to us. What do you think?” Well, I hate always saying no, had a moment of weakness and said, “If you want to.” He wanted to. We hung up and it dawned on me just how exhausted I was. This was no normal event; it was a concert fundraiser which meant a late night. Not a good thing for a pregnant woman. Standing, rocking out, smoke, etc…. what had I done?

After my childish fit about being too tired to go, we arrived and realized we were in the VIP section. Well, WH’s boss was in the VIP section - we were his surrogates. This meant chairs – things were looking up. Not only were we in the VIP section, we were in the front row, our seats directly next to the candidate this concert was benefiting. (This makes leaving early hard.) In the end, fun prevailed and we had a great time. We got to see a legendary group up close and personal and danced with all the big time donors sitting around us. Parts were a little surreal but it was fun.

Last night was another example of how I need to learn to loosen up a bit and just allow things to be fun if they have the potential to be. That being said, a political fundraiser in a hotel ballroom with no windows, crappy food, and expensive drinks is never fun… no one can convince me otherwise.