Jimmy Carter? Yeah, he's in Aisle 2 (Book singing at WI Walmart, Classy)
Milwaukee Journal Sentine ^ | 11/12/05 | Mike Nichols
My kids are little, didn't know Jimmy Carter from Aaron Carter. But, hey, the man's a former president and Nobel laureate and, anyway, I figured, we were low on both eggs and fruit snacks.
"So," I asked, "want to go meet him tonight?"
Heads popped. Eyes bulged.
"Really? Tonight? Where?" they were suddenly yelling. "Where?"
I knew what they were thinking. I always thought if I ever got to see a president or even ex-president up close it would be someplace really awe-inspiring like, say, the Oval Office or Camp David or maybe on Air Force One. There would be cabinet members all around, people named Scooter whispering things in my ear, large men in black sunglasses with biceps the size of cantaloupes.
Well, the cantaloupe part, at least, seemed possible.
"Um . . . Wal-Mart," I told them, averting my eyes a little. "In West Bend."
The oldest one looked at me the way she does when I am driving the van and get lost.
The middle one, looking confused, asked if I was going to wear a tuxedo.
"Can I," asked the youngest, "go to work with Mom?"
There is, I know, something sort of über-populistic about a former president signing books and mingling with the masses near the dairy section.
"I think it is wonderful," said 44-year-old Lisa Dunn, standing in line underneath the Roaster Oven with Buffet Server by GE.
"He does not act above anybody. He is right there where the people are."
Not to mention the cotton candy in five different colors.
It's just that there's something surreal about watching a woman with a gigantic bottle of mouthwash in her hand wait for the arrival of the 39th president of the United States.
"We came to see him," added another woman, Tracy Sellers, standing there with her son, Andrew, "and figured while we were here we would do a little shopping."
They had a shopping cart replete with Gatorade, Triscuits and 100% pure corn starch. Potato chips, too, though no peanuts.
People associate Carter with other things nowadays. He spoke quietly, though forcefully, about the Bush administration, about the war and whatnot. He smiled when I asked him about being at a Wal-Mart. Turns out he and Sam Walton used to go quail hunting.
I hope he was as quick with a gun as he was with a pen. I watched him sign 17 copies of his book in just one minute.
Historians would say he accomplished more in West Bend in 60 seconds than he did in D.C. in four years.
The enormous crowd begged to differ. People in line numbered in the thousands - and that didn't even include the ones who thought they were waiting for samples of that fabulous new cheese spread.
Given this was Washington County, I expected maybe six Democrats and a few guys picking up some 2% on the way home from work.
"I thought," quipped John Fitzgerald, waiting for Carter near the frozen juices, "we could chat, have coffee."
Actually, the former president wasn't quite as close to the coffee makers as the soda machine.
We tend to get jaded about politicians. Presidents, though, no matter when they served or where they are, have an aura about them that easily transfixes. That's what I wanted my kids to know. Here is a man of historic importance and incredible accomplishment and he's right there in front of you at Wal-Mart.
"Can we have some Skittles?" they asked.
"Sure," I told them.
And don't think you'd get that at the White House.
E-mail mnichols@journalsentinel.com or call (262) 376-4374. |
