Crochet Me Crazy

I've not posted much about our grass roots campaigning for Ron Paul here since this is my "crochet" blog but I've decided that has to stop. It's just too big of a part of our lives for me not to post. I was thinking about it and since I really started this blog for myself and a sort of record keeping journal and to keep a record of my crochet projects, I'm gipping myself if I don't write about the experiences we've had during our involvement with the Ron Paul grass roots movement. So, if you want to stop reading, here's your warning....

First, I'm going to post a letter written by a friend from our Ron Paul meet-up group. I want to save this letter because its about our experience we had on December 5th when we all met with Ron Paul at the airport one night to escort him home. We broke down but her letter was so good I want to memorialize it in my pages.

Driving Ron Home, Dec.5, 2007 by Carrie Snuske

I got the call around 7:20 PM from my friend Jeff Ritz from the Spring/Klein/Tomball
Ron Paul Meet-Up Group.

"I just found out ten minutes ago that Ron Paul is coming into Bush airport around
10:00 PM. We’re trying to get a convoy together to run him home to Lake Jackson, would you like to be a part of it?"

You bet I would! Jeff had recently helped me install an ‘A-frame’ he had made, in the bed of my pick up truck to display two huge Ron Paul for President signs. Now I am able to shout my support all the time, wherever I go, and I wasn’t about to miss an opportunity to be in a convoy with Ron Paul! I loved the idea that our escort would be our way of showing him that we are ‘right behind him’.

I met up with three other vehicles Jeff, Lisa, their two kids, Nanette, as well as Mark Holmes. We all wanted our candidate to be able to rest, and recharge his batteries from the campaign trail, so we didn’t go inside the airport to greet him. Instead we stayed with our vehicles in the third row and waited for him to appear.. , [ AIRPORT ANNOUNCEMENT : "The third row is reserved for Ron Paul supporters. For security reasons, please stay with your vehicles."]

We met up with Ron Paul’s personal driver Bruce and waited with him. Our plan was to stay back and leave him alone so Dr. Paul could just come home and relax
As we are standing there Nanette says, "Who has some Slim Jims? We need to work this crowd." I reach into my satchel and pull out a handful of Slim Jims with calling cards stapled to them. Nanette walks up and down the rows of cars handing out information and talking with folks about Ron Paul.

We see a security guard through the window in the upper level of the airport motioning with his hands and arms. Ron Paul is coming. About 10 minutes later we are wondering where he is. There were other supporters inside holding a welcome home banner for Ron Paul and he was sure to make time to chat with them.

As the great man came out of the terminal I stayed back and took pictures from a distance, even as Ron Paul moved toward the front vehicle of our group and started chatting with them. As driver of the tail vehicle I cooperated with airport security and stayed with my truck, busying myself taking pictures. When Bruce led the candidate off to his car, we all put on our four-way flashers and followed along behind. That’s when I realized I had missed my chance to meet Ron Paul. I could have kicked myself!

When we got to Pearland I was surprised and heartened at the out pouring of support for Ron Paul. We passed a line of ten or fifteen vehicles of supporters parked along the side of the road like ducks in a row, their flashers on, beeping their horns as we passed, ready to fall in line with the rest of the convoy. I called my friend from Pearland, Robert Mayer, and found out that he had indeed joined in the convoy.

At every curve in the road I peeked into my mirror at the impressive line of vehicles with their flashers on, and teared up a bit.

Just before we got into lake Jackson, Jeff, in the lead ‘A’ frame pulled off the road, so we all started pulling off the road, but were waived on. Mark called me a few minutes later to tell me that Jeff had broken down, and that I and the huge line behind me needed to catch up.
The plan was to get Dr. Paul close to his home, and to break off and head on back home, so that we wouldn’t keep him from this rare opportunity for rest. Before we know it, however, we were at his house! I stayed with my truck even as other supporters started assembling at Dr. Paul's street corner, talking about Jeff’s breakdown.

Ron Paul comes out and chats with the crowd, and before I know it he starts heading my way! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, he is coming my way! He comes up to me as I am standing next to my truck. He looks tired, but strong. He sticks out his hand and says, ‘How are you? Thanks for coming’. Star-struck, the first thing I say is ‘I am working so hard for you’, at the same time I am thinking to myself ‘Carrie, you are so stupid, everyone is working hard, especially him!’ The next thing out of my mouth is "I love your message. Thank you so much ... Did you see all of those people waiting for you in Pearland?" ... " Do you know that the message is that 'we are right behind you' ? Dr. Paul thoughtfully said yes he was aware of that.

It's midnight. I am standing on Ron Paul's street chatting with him. He peers into the darkness behind me and says, ‘Is there anyone else? Have I missed anyone?’ The compassion of that statement, from Dr. Paul, to be so concerned that someone might be left out, impressed me.

Robert stepped out of the shadows. I said ‘Here’s another friend, this is Robert Mayer, Robert, this is Ron.’ That’s when I took the photo of Robert and Ron, which is posted along with Robert's story' The Ron Paul Convoy', December 6, 2007, @ LewRockwell.com, and Robert took this picture of Dr. Paul and me.

One of us said to Dr. Paul, 'Well you probably need to get some rest so you can get more energy.' With a widespread gesture of his hand Ron said,"This is what gives me the energy!"


Carrie Snuske
Dec. 17,2007