A Brush With Greatness - Pt I
- Saturday, February 16 2013 @ 10:50 AM EST
- Contributed by: masodo
- Views: 1,584

Throughout everyone's life there are certain events that - for the individual at least - are remembered as being "A Brush With Greatness." I have had a few such times in my life that I remember fondly and imagine that If I do not chronicle them perhaps some day I may well forget. As they occur to me I will share them with you from BlogDogIt.
One of my earliest brushes with greatness - one I share with a multitude of people - occurred seated in front of the television set; witnessing those famous first steps by Man upon the Moon [See BlogDogIt: That "One Small Step..." 43 Years Ago.] Although the action was occurring - literally - "A World Away", I was there and saw it live. It was greatness; even at the tender age of ten I knew it to be so.
A little over seven months later I was to find myself standing in the cold February sun with my Mother, Sister and Brother at a rally in downtown Indianapolis where I saw President Richard Nixon deliver the following remarks: [Click To Read Transcript]
Remarks at City Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana.
February 5, 1970
While I did not get to shake his hand (or even get very close) I saw the man, I heard his speech, he was my President, it was very awesome indeed.
And so... The World turned... several years later - as a Professional/Commercial photographer - I would occasionally share the same air with some big-name local politicians; each great men in their own right: Richard Lugar, Otis Bowen, Robert Orr, Evan Bayh, William Hudnut, Stephen Goldsmith. All of these folks have been viewed by yours truly - in uncompromising detail - on the ground-glass of assorted Yashica and Nikon cameras - in my quest to pay the rent. (For the record I did actually shake hands and speak with three of these gentlemen.)
Once upon a time... I attended (worked) a private luncheon at which Hillary Clinton was seated at a table (among the commoners.) I was floating around the room photographing the event and made a point to pass close enough to Mrs. Clinton to tug her tresses - but of course this was not a playground and I was not a brat. I remember thinking at the time: "How cool is this?"
Well, that about covers it for the political scene... I have had several other brushes with greatness that I look forward to sharing with you as time allows.
Of course none of these compare with how great it is that you took the time to visit BlogDogIt - I appreciate that!