My DNC experience

 
The background is that the company I work for donated funds to both the host city committees of the RNC and DNC. So we had a non-partisan presence at both conventions, but the DNC also took place in the same city as our headquarters. I was asked if I wanted to be on the planning team, and i said yes of course! Closer to the start of the DNC, I was told that my roles would be: 1) General help such as giving tours of our HQ if any VIPs wanted them, and 2) Being a seat saver: getting to the UC (United Center, where it took place) early and holding seats for VIPs. Most of the folks working on this are based out of our office in DC, and flew in on Sunday.

Bit of a rundown on how it all went. As with everything, once I shed my desire for things to be orderly, it helped.

Monday:

Drove in to the office and arrived early, the DC team was there, and they thanked me for arriving early. I felt very useful and people were great. (I helped them print stuff. It was like Command Central and just energizing to be a part of). When it was time to do my seat saving duties at the UC, I took the el there. The el added a new stop near the UC but with all the police and the way they marshalled the crowd, it took about 15 minutes to walk to the security line. So I did my seat saving duties and got to see Jesse Jackson, Maxine Waters, and others, but I left early because I was having angst about how to get home. I regret leaving early since I missed the heavy hitters (Biden, Hilary Clinton, and a surprise appearance by Kamala). I took an Uber back to the office and drove home from there. Many roads were blocked and it was stressful. But I made it

(EDIT - I just watched a hilarious Daily Show recap of Day 1, and it underscores that Day 1 just went on way too damn long and me leaving early was probably the right thing. And you know it's not like I can't watch those missed speeches anytime on YouTube)

Tuesday:
 
Started as a bummer because I'd been asked to arrive to the office at 10am Mon-Wed but I got there (on public transport) and no one was there. And the lead didn’t respond to my text. One sorta good thing is that I was told by the Security folks that the Uber lines yesterday at the end were horrible - so maybe leaving early yesterday wasn’t so bad? Anyway, since it didn't look like I was needed until seat-saving time at 4pm, I left the office on public transport, still kinda bummed that my teammate hadn’t told me that she didn’t need me there that AM. But whatever, I got some rest at home, I ate, and then I buckled down for a long night as I was determined to stay at the DNC till it ended. And I did! I Ubered back to the office. At the DNC, saw Doug Emhoff and both Obamas!! It was all worth it. My friend John was my hero and picked me up which was so great! He picked the perfect meeting spot, and other convention-goers helped me find it. He made the trip home easy. And even better, I found someone to replace me on seat saving for Wednesday so I could rest Wednesday and have stamina for Thursday....last long enough to see Kamala. (Also I remembered to bring my portable chargers but forgot to bring the cord to connect them to my phone, but I had time to get a new cord at Walgreens before coworkers and I went to the DNC)

Wednesday:

This was the lightest day since I had someone to cover my seat saving duties. My only other role was to help with registration at a midday reception at our HQ. I drove in. Saw my boss and she was AWESOME as usual and she complimented me on my energy and positivity. I went home after the reception at 2pm, watched the DNC on TV with Doris, and it was a nice day

Thursday:

Last day! And I had no duties till the PM when I would be seat saver again. Decided to splurge on an Uber to the office. A large group of my team met  at the office at 4:15 and I had fun as we all got excited and ready to go. We Ubered over to the UC. And....ugh it was already so full!! All the 200 level seats were gone. We later learned that people on the highest level were standing 3 deep! As soon as we saw no more seats on 200, we hurried to the lounge we had booked. But almost all the good seats were gone there too. (Man, we were BAD seat savers that day, LOL!) We squirreled away 5 seats on the far corner of the lounge and it would have to do. I didn't have the best view but....Kamala!! I WAS THERE WHEN SHE ACCEPTED THE NOMINATION! WHEN THE BALLOONS FELL! I got to be a small part of history!! And my stamina was good; I was never bored, the evening moved along quickly. Got to see Pink too!

(Once more John drove me home, that man is a god).

(And the weather was literally incredible, like 68-75 each day instead of 88 and humid as August here can be. Next week the temp is shooting way up)