The photo is from an event a few years ago where I stood on a punishing concrete floor listening to three politicians I really like: Bill Clinton, Patty Murray, and Jay Inslee.

Now, Jay Inslee, who briefly ran for president, attended Viewlands Elementary and was in my sister’s class. (She’s a year younger than I am.) Jay came to one of her birthday parties with chocolates. He had a bit of a crush, but was so shy that he spent some of that day under the table.

I met Patty when my marvelous Geology teacher at Shoreline Community College made a point of asking me to come to his Political Science class that day. He took the two of us aside and introduced us. What a cool teacher! He thought that much of me. Professor Hartel was great at teaching and genuinely liked his students. Patty was the “Mom in tennis shoes” running for office at that time.

The photo is the only time I was physically in the same room as either of the Clintons though I came so close. (Some of the profs at Shoreline got to meet Bill the time he came to that school. I wasn’t one of them but stood at the side of the road waving at his limo.) I came close to getting a spot at a signing with Hillary at Third Place Books, but, of course, the room was overpacked.

In spite of not meeting either of them personally, I sent some letters to Bill when he became president, telling him how much I liked his programs and the way he acted as president. I sent one apologizing to him for my country when he was given impeachment papers, I believe, on the same day his mother died. I was a delegate both times for Hillary and sorely miss the ability to have seen her be the first woman president. On a recent show with James Corden, I was delighted to see Hillary and Chelsea…enjoying each other and talking about some mother/daughter moments. I was so glad to see and hear about some good and pleasant things in her life. Presidents I’ve known and almost known. 🙂