Off Topic: Obamarama

I've mentioned before that Indiana is getting hammered by visits from the two Democratic presidential hopefuls. And let me just say, we're enjoying the attention. But we all know that after Tuesday, we probably won't see them again.

Yesterday I offered to take my four-year-old to a park here in Noblesville and asked her which one she wanted to go to. She picked Forest Park because of its carousel. On the way out the door I pocketed my camera because these days, you just never know who you'll run into.

As soon as we got there, I realized something was up. The place was swarming with Obama supporters. "A rally," I thought. But perhaps he was making an appearance. I stopped a lady and asked her what was up. She confirmed it: He was coming, but nobody knew when. Everyone had brought food and they were having a pitch-in for him and his family. (I have to admit that I was taken aback by the sort of brainwashed fervor these people were exhibiting. But perhaps I am just unused to anyone in Hamilton County admitting that they are a Democrat, let alone making a public spectacle about it.)

The line to get into the picnic area snaked around for half a mile, and it wasn't moving. My daughter isn't a great line-waiter, so we went about our business and played on the playground.

After about an hour it got chilly, so we loaded up to leave. On our way out of the park, the police suddenly stopped traffic on the road that runs alongside it. I knew this was it. So I pulled into a parking lot and jumped out with the camera. In came the motorcade. I snapped the above photo of the Obama family bus. If you think you see someone in the bus waving, you're right. But as it turns out, it's just my reflection.

This photo will join my collection of political "almosts," alongside the 1978 picture I took of Jimmy Carter's limo as he raced through Evansville, revealing nothing but a waving hand and a big set of teeth--thankfully, his and not mine.