My batting average is 0 for 2 in getting a photo snapped with grandchildren of the Presidents this year. In August, I missed the chance to be photographed with John Tyler’s grandson Harrison, the owner of Tyler’s former estate, because he was on his way out of town. On November 28, 2007, I missed a photo op with Jenna Bush, granddaughter of former President George H.W. Bush, thanks to the inexcusable ineptitude of the guy standing in line behind me. To look at the bright side, at least I got to meet the lovely Jenna and get her autograph.
Jenna Bush was traveling the bookstore circuit signing copies of her book Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope. Of course, her fame was a little beyond just being the granddaughter of a President, since her father is the sitting President of the United States. After missing the chance to see her himself, my friend Bob had sent me the info that she would be appearing in my area at the Beavercreek Books & Co. I had no excuse to miss this opportunity with it being right in my hometown at the new Greene Town Center. So I stopped by Books & Co. that Wednesday morning and lined up to get my ticket for a place in line – which was to be handed out at 9:00am.
The first indication I had that luck would not be with me was when a bookstore employee poked her head out of the door to inform the twenty or so people who had lined up in the freezing cold that the line to get tickets was actually on the other side of the building. Once we shuffled over there, we found about 45 people already waiting. This wasn’t a huge deal really – I knew that being number 48 would certainly guarantee me the chance to get an autograph. I went ahead and purchased a copy of the book and then headed off to work.
I returned to Books & Co. just before 5pm that evening. Fortunately there was no line outside and the Secret Service check was minor upon entrance to the store (even less than I was used to the numerous times I have seen President Carter). Jenna was scheduled to arrive at 6:00. For an hour, I milled about the books, checking out the latest Biblical selections.
Jenna arrived right on time and spoke to the gathered crowd for about 30 minutes. I’d guess there were about 300 people or more there to see her. She talked about her inspiration for writing about the book after her internship with UNICEF in Panama, read selections from the book, and showed a video about UNICEF. It was a nice, brief, and entertaining way to address the crowd.
When it was finally time for my number group to get in line (they never once checked our numbers, incidentally), I asked the goofball behind me if he could snap a photo of me with Jenna Bush when I approached her to get her signature in my book. He agreed and I explained how to use the camera. Supposedly, we were not supposed to take any posed shots, but were free to take pictures from the line.
It was obvious that Jenna was very kind and friendly, so I had no reservations about asking her to look toward my camera that my new friend was holding. We posed for about five seconds which felt like an eternity while waiting for the flash to go off – and it never did. She signed my book and said “sorry” that the picture didn’t work out. I waited for a minute to see if there might be someone else who might be capable of pushing a button correctly, but the line kept advancing as people were hurried through. I was very surprised that the Secret Service never moved me along, before I finally realized that I simply would not be able to get a photo with her – thanks to the walleyed pike who was unable to make a camera go click. I did however snap the two pictures seen above of her signing the books.
The next morning while visiting the Anderson Kroger store where I had just installed two new self-checkouts, Cincinnati Reds broadcasters Marty Brennaman and his son Thom were there signing autographs. I had long wanted to get a photo with Marty and his long-time co-commentator Joe Nuxhall – both of whom have been Kroger spokesmen for many years. Unfortunately, Joe passed away on November 15. Although I had met them and gotten autographs both of them many times, I had never had a photo taken with them.
After having mulled over the Jenna Bush situation all night long, and realizing that my Marty and Joe photo would never be, I decided this would be a good time to whip out my camera and get a photo with the two Brennamans. I don’t think either of them ever had a Grandpa who was President of the United States, but it made me feel a little bit better.
Nonsense! Marty Brennaman’s grandfather was none other than James K. Polk.
I think.
Chris Tangeman
November 30th, 2007