The first evening followed by the first day of the Convention

Arrived and was greeted by helpful volunteers who helped me get the shuttle to the hotel - the Marriott, a huge and bustling place where delegates from Iowa, Florida and California are staying. Lucked into a lovely room I'm sharing with my daughter, Julie, a friend, Elsa and a new friend, a Bernie supporter from San Diego.   Lots of enthusiastic Bernie people everywhere!

Marches for Bernie all over downtown Philadelphia.  Hundreds of thousands supporters from all over are here to speak for their issues and their candidate.  We hear there are about 4,500 delegates and 15,000 journalists here.  A few I've seen are Anderson Cooper, Tom Brokaw, Wolf Blitzer, Erica Hill, E J Dionne and one of my favorites, Joy Reid. We registered for event tickets and a gift bag and eventually headed off to dinner at a restaurant Julie found - amazed at the news that Debbie Wasserman Shultz was out!  Soon, we discovered the DNC Welcome Delegate party we'd just learned about that had great food, free drinks, lots of music and noise, too.  Back to the hotel where CA Bernie delegates met to plan logistics for Monday, remind everyone about schedule changes and practice our "I'm on a Journey with Bernie song.  They passed out signs saying Yea, Nay, Yes, No and Roll Call.Such fun being with all the enthusiastic Bernie folks.

Monday, July 25th

Up early for a CA delegation breakfast at our hotel with fabulous speakers - Barbara Lee, John Chaing, Ed Lee, SOS Alex Padilla and the wonderful Nancy Pelosi.

Chatted with my Congresswoman, Anna Eshoo before heading off to find a Medicare for All and No on TPP meetings – things took so long I missed the first one, but a very large and eager crowd listened to good speakers urging us to speak up to prevent a vote for the dangerous TPP legislation during the lame duck Congress.

They cleared the two ballrooms following that and did a security sweep and just allowed delegates in to hear our hero, Bernie speak to the delegates.  The overflow crowd was so excited and Bernie spoke masterfully – reminding us of all that still needs to be done to help the 99% and improve our democracy.  He touted the improvements accomplished via the platform and in the rules committee.  Superdelegates will be reduced by 60% and we’ve almost achieved open primaries, (Sorry, I was cheering so much I didn’t take good notes – but did take a video which I’ll include once I’ve edited it a bit.)  I think CNN and others covered the raucous proceedings – all the passionate supporters who even booed when Bernie asked us to vote for Clinton/Kaine.

Finally, it was time to board the shuttles for the Wells Fargo Center (basketball arena) for the main event.  I’m there now, marveling at the enormous size of this place the palpable excitement.  So far we’ve heard from Boyz to Men (Philadelphia group I’ve always enjoyed!) and many Democrats, including Barney Frank, who headed the Rules Committee and engendered a bunch of Bernie chants and boos, Hon. Elijah Cummings, Diane Russell, the woman from Maine who spearheaded the no superdelegates campaign, Ben Jealous, Raul Grijalva, Sen. Jeff Merkley

 and others.  We heard reports from the platform and rules committees and approved them with some opposition.  The Bernie crowd has held up "no TPP" Bernie and pro-Bernie, signs and cheered for Bernie every chance they’ve had.  So this unity is coming slowly.  

After charging batteries on my phone and computer, and refueling ourselves at the wonderful Next Gen California Cafe, sponsored by Tom Steyer, we heard Kristen Gillibrand  and the wonderful Al Franken who was far and away the most entertaining speaker!  Paul Simon performed a lovely "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," (Peggy!) and then we heard and an exhilarating speech by Cory Booker. 

You could feel the long sought unity beginning to happen. Then some law student started talking about an experience she had, only to surprisingly introduce her professor, Sen. Elizabeth Warren.  Although I adore her and her strong progressive stances against the big banks, she was a little disappointing as a speaker, I thought.  But not the outstanding Co-Leader of the House Progressive Caucus, Keith Ellison, who encouraged support for progressive legislation on many issues and support for Hillary.  Then, the magnificent video of Bernie Sanders, done to the fabulous Simon and Garfunkel song, “America” played and the crowd loved it, but they went absolutely wild when Bernie emerged on the stage.  Cheering all over the arena for such a long time.  Tears were welling up.  Then, as he reminded us of the need to get $ out of politics, overturn Citizens United, the importance of addressing climate change, having a living wage, providing healthcare for all and making the government represent the 99%, I found myself openly crying in disappointment that our progressive leader will not lead “the revolution” through the White House, and that we won’t have as much opportunity to feel his hopeful inspiration in the future. 

Emotionally, drained, we boarded the shuttle back to the hotel and fell into bed at nearly 1:30!  So ready for Day 2!

The first evening followed by the first day of the Convention

Arrived and was greeted by helpful volunteers who helped me get the shuttle to the hotel - the Marriott, a huge and bustling place where delegates from Iowa, Florida and California are staying. Lucked into a lovely room I'm sharing with my daughter, Julie, a friend, Elsa and a new friend, a Bernie supporter from San Diego.   Lots of enthusiastic Bernie people everywhere!

Marches for Bernie all over downtown Philadelphia.  Hundreds of thousands supporters from all over are here to speak for their issues and their candidate.  We hear there are about 4,500 delegates and 15,000 journalists here.  A few I've seen are Anderson Cooper, Tom Brokaw, Wolf Blitzer, Erica Hill, E J Dionne and one of my favorites, Joy Reid. We registered for event tickets and a gift bag and eventually headed off to dinner at a restaurant Julie found - amazed at the news that Debbie Wasserman Shultz was out!  Soon, we discovered the DNC Welcome Delegate party we'd just learned about that had great food, free drinks, lots of music and noise, too.  Back to the hotel where CA Bernie delegates met to plan logistics for Monday, remind everyone about schedule changes and practice our "I'm on a Journey with Bernie song.  They passed out signs saying Yea, Nay, Yes, No and Roll Call.Such fun being with all the enthusiastic Bernie folks.

Monday, July 25th

Up early for a CA delegation breakfast at our hotel with fabulous speakers - Barbara Lee, John Chaing, Ed Lee, SOS Alex Padilla and the wonderful Nancy Pelosi.

Chatted with my Congresswoman, Anna Eshoo before heading off to find a Medicare for All and No on TPP meetings – things took so long I missed the first one, but a very large and eager crowd listened to good speakers urging us to speak up to prevent a vote for the dangerous TPP legislation during the lame duck Congress.

They cleared the two ballrooms following that and did a security sweep and just allowed delegates in to hear our hero, Bernie speak to the delegates.  The overflow crowd was so excited and Bernie spoke masterfully – reminding us of all that still needs to be done to help the 99% and improve our democracy.  He touted the improvements accomplished via the platform and in the rules committee.  Superdelegates will be reduced by 60% and we’ve almost achieved open primaries, (Sorry, I was cheering so much I didn’t take good notes – but did take a video which I’ll include once I’ve edited it a bit.)  I think CNN and others covered the raucous proceedings – all the passionate supporters who even booed when Bernie asked us to vote for Clinton/Kaine.

Finally, it was time to board the shuttles for the Wells Fargo Center (basketball arena) for the main event.  I’m there now, marveling at the enormous size of this place the palpable excitement.  So far we’ve heard from Boyz to Men (Philadelphia group I’ve always enjoyed!) and many Democrats, including Barney Frank, who headed the Rules Committee and engendered a bunch of Bernie chants and boos, Hon. Elijah Cummings, Diane Russell, the woman from Maine who spearheaded the no superdelegates campaign, Ben Jealous, Raul Grijalva, Sen. Jeff Merkley

 and others.  We heard reports from the platform and rules committees and approved them with some opposition.  The Bernie crowd has held up "no TPP" Bernie and pro-Bernie, signs and cheered for Bernie every chance they’ve had.  So this unity is coming slowly.  

After charging batteries on my phone and computer, and refueling ourselves at the wonderful Next Gen California Cafe, sponsored by Tom Steyer, we heard Kristen Gillibrand  and the wonderful Al Franken who was far and away the most entertaining speaker!  Paul Simon performed a lovely "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," (Peggy!) - very cool.  Cory Booker was rather electrifying and then we heard the magnificent First Lady, Michelle Obama who spoke so brilliantly and with great empathy about very important issues and the qualities of Hillary.  Sort of like a warm hug - according to my daughter, Julie!  Everyone loved her, as you could probably see on TV.  She made me so proud to be a Democrat.  

Literally, on the way to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love!

Sunday, July 24, 2016 – Aboard AMTRAC train from Connecticut to Philadelphia

Finally I have wifi and can update and send my report!  After a lovely stay in Manhattan with a dear friend and a nice visit to Marcia’s grave and opportunity to catch up with my very hospitable brother-in-law in Connecticut I am getting closer to the Convention. 

Already my head is spinning with all the events, marches, meetings, parties, trainings and strategies discussed endlessly in emails, texts, Facebook posts and Twitter. So if I miss an email occasionally, please know it’s inadvertent.

Recent big thing yesterday is whether or not Bernie delegates should go hear him speak on Monday afternoon at 2 (as his campaign strongly suggested!) and risk being late for the 4 pm gavel drop at the Wells Fargo Center, across town, given the traffic and security concerns. 

Today Bernie people are demonstrating by City Hall and from what I hear there’s a good sized crowd.  I’ll meet up with Elsa (fellow delegate who’s also a friend who lives 15 minutes from me) and my daughter Julie later today, as well as our other roommate, Josephine, from San Diego, who I only know from a special FB group for delegates.  Meeting at 4 for Northern CA delegates. Then an evening meeting with HRC delegates to find common ground on the TPP.  That is followed by something at 7 and Julie and I and our roommates have a dinner reservation, in case we need it at 7:30!  I can feel the pace quickening. It should be very exciting – and it doesn’t even officially begin until tomorrow!

New York with Bexley friends

Friday, July 22nd, 2016

I'm slowly getting used to this blog technology . . . and hope to be able to post a couple of photos this time.  We'll see!  I arrived Tuesday and was picked up at La Guardia by a Bexley High School (Columbus, Ohio) friend, Harriett, and we spent the evening in her charming home, catching up, and enjoying a lovely dinner with her kind husband, Nick Fragnoli, (aka the concierge), who is a professor and Dean at nearby Malloy College.  On Wednesday, we journied to Port Washington, Long Island, to Dody Berne's home where 7 of us had a long leisurely delicious lunch (Wendy, Barbie, Ellen, Susie, Dody, Harriett and me) Gifts and a bit of gossip ensued - and it was great to pick up where we left off!

The next day Harriett and I met Ellen for lunch and a spin around the gigantic Metropolitan Museum in Manhattan.  Among many other things we saw an intriguing display about the intricacies of adornments on haute couture.   Staying with my friend of 65 years, Ellen and her very understanding husband, Roy.  I'll see my aunt, some cousins and my brother in law before taking the train to Philadelphia on Sunday - for all the excitement of the Convention.

You came here thinking you were going to find out something about politics.  Not to worry.  As has become my custom lately, I have spent many hours daily reading emails, keeping up with delegate Facebook groups and participating in conference calls to plan delegate strategies and learn about the myriad of activities that will take place at the Convention.  I hardly have time for anything else!!  :)
It will be a very exciting time. There will be many Bernie suggestions to the Rules Committee that meets Saturday, before I arrive, unfortunately.  Things like doing away with superdelegates in the future and making it easier to vote, among others. Big, needed changes could occur.

 So many Bernie supporters, delegates and non, are heading toward Philadelphia now - in cross country caravans, by plane and train.  The one thing that becomes clear, is that everything is in a state of flux.  Gavel times change.  Plans for meetings are rescheduled So excited to see what awaits!

Above is a picture of 1) the amazing Our Delegate - Carole button that wonderful Harriett made for the classmate lunch (she is the most creative and thoughtful person I know!!)  She even gave me extras for my family and friends.

Before I go . . .

Tomorrow, July 19th, my adventure begins - with a visit to high school friends and family, on my way to Philadelphia.  I'm excited to see everyone and to take my place at the Democratic National Committee Convention next Sunday before the official start on Monday.  Today, of course, I'm tying up loose ends, trying out this blog and packing!  It's predicted to be 98 or 99 degrees, just like the way it was at our family reunion in July, 1999!  And sticky, too!  Can't wait!