"This shit actually happened."

Okay. Buckle your seat belts because this is a quick lightening round of the crazy shit that happened to me while working the Dem Convention in Philly. All of it is true. All of it actually happened. Fired up? Ready to go? 

1. On Thursday, Shonda Rhimes spoke at the women's caucus. I ran into her backstage and got to tell her all about my mom and her "year of yes." I also go to shake her hand and admire her fucking amazing Fendi handbag.
2. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was wearing the cutest shiny red kitten heels, complimented my pink flats. "Oh! I just love your shoes!"
3. I shook Al Franken's hand and did not barf on his shoes.
4. Former MD Gov. Martin O'Malley was taking a selfie with a fan nearby. I said, "That is way too much handsome for one picture!" Gov. O'Malley grinned from ear to ear. I think he thought I was flirting with him and I totally was. He also gave an amazing speech to the Ethnic Diversity Council in which he said, "We must go knock on doors and make calls and volunteer for Hillary and when you get tired and you feel as if you cannot go on, you must remember the journey of your ancestors who came here to America." It was awesome. 
5. Georgia State Rep & Majority Leader Stacey Abrams came to speak to the women's caucus on Thursday. Before she spoke, I told he what a bad ass the is. (She really is. Google her. Bow down to it.) She hugged me. (!!!) And, then, I told her to keep going and run for higher office. I will write her a big check for her campaign. We need Leader Abrams and more bad asses like her.
6. Councilwoman Ayanna Pressley from Boston was on a panel during our caucus with other amazing women but the Councilwoman straight up stole the show. Not only is she the first black council member in Boston in over 100 years, she is a leader and bad ass. But that is not why she is on this list. During the panel, she told the women in the room, especially the female POC that we must "stand in our power." There is no way I will do the moment justice but the room was electric. Stand in your power, y'all. 
7. One of the things I was taught is that when I am working, I am not to fangirl. I am to act professionally and do my job. We do not ask for photographs. I have met so many amazing people while working but have little photo evidence because I was following this rule. HOWEVER. When the opportunity to shake Rep. John Lewis' hand and have a photo? Well. I broke the rules. I did not even feel (that) badly about it. I mentioned this to some of the Women's Caucus Vice Chairs, who knew my mentor Mame Reiley very well. Sally, who hails from the great state of Georgia, told me that one time, Mame had the same opportunity to meet and get a photo with Rep. Lewis and that she, too, lost her shit and all sense of the rules and fangirled out. I mean, how great is that? John Lewis is a goddamn legend, so it totally makes sense. It also made me feel like Mame made that moment happen for me and it makes me emotional.
8. Ran into so many of the people I used to see all the time while working for Mame and got to talk about her a lot. Lottie Shackleford (current Women's Caucus chair and bad ass) and all the vice chairs all were thrilled to have me there to represent. It was so wonderful to share in great memories of Mame.
9. Got to see SO MANY people that I used to work with on political stuff. From Jon Murray (who I first met in 2004 while working for Kerry/Edwards), to Heather Mizuer (who I worked for when I interned for then Sen. Kerry in 2005), to my Mark Warner family, Tim Kaine friends, Hillary 2008 advance friends and even some people from my short stint in Harrisburg! All of them remembered me and were so warm and supportive. It was uplifting to be remembered and SO GREAT to see all the amazing things they are all doing with their lives. Political work can be so transient, we work hard for limited time and move along to the next thing, so it was amazing to see all of these wonderful people and catch up!
10. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: On the first night of the convention, Rep. Marcia Fudge gaveled in the proceedings to a volatile and noisy crowd. As she gaveled in the convention, she said firmly, "A lot of you in this room do not know me but I am here to listen to you and all the different opinions and respect you but you must respect me." I tweeted: someone needs to go hold the congresswoman's earrings. // On Thursday, before she spoke to the women's caucus (a speech in which she told the crowd not to be trifling), I told her what I had said and that if she ever needed someone to hold her earrings, I would gladly volunteer. She laughed so hard that she practically doubled over. It was, by far, one of my favorite moments working in professional politics.

I also got to meet a bunch of my favorite twitter friends in real life, got adopted by the black caucus and did handstands in a police hat. There were also chicken and waffles cupcakes, bourbon in a flask, gator chomps with old friends. 

It was amazing.

And it all happened.