This actually involved my husband and his parents, since I was working at the time. I would have given anything to be there, though!

I don't recall the exact date, except that it was during late spring or summer in the late 90s -- probably 1999. My husband took his parents to the Indianapolis, IN International Airport. They were headed home to southern Virginia at the time. They were to have a lay-over in Washington DC before flying to their destination, an airport in North Carolina. My husband was able to wait with them in the terminal until it was time for their flight. It was then that he noticed something odd. There were several very serious looking men standing around who would occasionally appear to be talking to their sleeves. What really got his attention, though, was when he caught a glimpse of a machine gun under one of their overcoats. A motorcade pulled up outside to the very plane that his parents were to get on, so he assumed it was someone important, though he still didn't know who. There seemed to be some discussion going on and the next thing he knew the women's restroom was being cleared out. Suddenly, there she was -- Tipper Gore. She came walking up the ramp from the waiting airplane. Apparently she had needed to use the bathroom, but didn't want to use the one on the plane. My husband tells me that she walked right past him. I believe that she was flying alone, which is why she was using a commericial plane. After relieving herself, she returned to the plane. The other passengers, including my in-laws, boarded, and off they went. Needless to say, my husband felt pretty confident about the safety of the flight. Coincidentally, this was actually the first plane trip my husband's parents had ever been on!

Very cool! In my one and only experience of meeting Tipper, she gave me the complement of, "Oh, what a sweet young man."

I'll never forget it!

While helping my girlfriend at the TACA Air Fair in Nashville last Sunday morning, I stopped reading "Crossing the Rubicon" to see a gentleman who looked much like Al Gore outside the booth. His blond female partner came in and asked about earings that were clip on, while this man stood outside. When I couldn't find a single pair of clip ons the lady graciously thanked me and they moved on.

The next folks in the booth clued me in, that it was indeed Al and Tipper. Being from Michigan, I am not used to political celebrities co-mingling with us other folks. ;-)

I have to say that both Tipper and Al were polite, and very non-assuming. They had a very 'good energy' about them. I have meet George H.W. Bush in 1979 and he gave off a very undesirable energy, enough so that I completely reversed my opinion of him. History has proven my 'gut feel', correct.

After they left I wished I had asked Al and Tipper three questions. One, does their home use some/all renewable energy. Two, what percentage and three, do they drive hybrids.

The art fair attendees seemed to either respect their anonymity or maybe were the ones that didn't vote for him 2000. I ran into them again on my way to the Spammobile and because others were giving them their space I decided against talking to them.

I wish for them to know, their presense and aura gave me a very positive impression of them. I am glad I voted for Al in 2000 and would have in 2004 and if given the chance, will in 2008.

Respectively,

Jay Peasley
Hesperia, MI