At a certain point last Friday morning when I was covering Michelle Obama’s visit to the US Army Garrison in Vicenza, Italy, I was rushing with AP Television cameraman Gigi Navarra to get into position to film the First Lady and her daughters serving ice cream to kids on the base. I was dragging my computer bag filled with cables and equipment with one hand and had the fuzzy microphone in the other hand, the long cable draped around my arm like a snake.
A crowd of people pushed up against the barrier holding up cell phones and ipads in the air to try to get a photo of the First Lady. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder from someone behind the barrier, I turned and there was a woman smiling at me. “Hi Trisha,” she said. I responded “Hi!” racking my brain trying to remember who she was or where I had met her. “I’m sorry,” I said, “I am confused. Where have we met?” “I am a reader of your blog,” she answered.
I nearly dropped all of my equipment on the ground. Someone out there actually reads my blog and even recognized me?!?!! I felt momentarily like a celebrity blogger, a blogging star instead of a slogging dimming satellite of a TV field producer, and much-maligned mother of three teens. The press mass pushed forward and I had to move closer to the First Lady so I lost my blog reader in the shuffle, but I have to say she made my day. I was walking on air for at least an hour. So, even though I didn’t catch her name, I am doing this blog post about my day covering the First Lady at Vicenza for that nice woman at Vicenza Army Base who reads my blog. Thank you!!!!
Just a little background, the Vicenza Army Garrison in Italy is home to about 200 military families. The Vicenza base is the home of the 173rd Brigade with paratroopers currently deployed to six countries: Turkey, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. It is also the headquarters of US Army Africa who were the first American forces to fly in to West Africa to help with the Ebola crisis.
The First Lady was scheduled to come to a barbecue and address the crowd. I had been calling and messaging her press people starting the afternoon before urging them to give us a comment on the attack on the Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina -it was the top story and we needed her reaction.
When we got to the base there was a stage set up, a barbecue underway off at the other end of the field, lots of kids waiting for their ice cream, and great danceable music blasting all around. I stood with my colleagues on the riser across from the stage, barely able to control my urge to dance, and doubted that the First Lady would use this lively atmosphere to address such a tragic issue as the massacre at the Church in South Carolina.
But before she arrived the atmosphere changed slightly. A young woman soldier named Amanda Donohue came on the stage in her fatigues and burgundy beret and sang the most beautiful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” I have ever heard. When I heard her sing I got goose bumps all over my arms and suddenly felt very emotional. I noticed my colleague Pietro did too—and he is not even American. When I asked him he said, “Oh, I love national anthems.” Anyway, that Amanda has got talent!!
Finally the First Lady came jogging up on stage in a bright red dress and the crowd went wild. People were yelling at her “We love you!” And she responded, “I love you more!” Then after the first greeting she dove directly into the topic of the day, the massacre in Charleston.
This is what she said,
“I just want to take a moment to talk just a little bit about what happened in Charleston, because I haven’t had an opportunity to speak to this. But as my husband said yesterday, simply saying that our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and the community of Charleston simply doesn’t convey the heartache that we all feel. We’ve seen too many tragedies like this, and there is something particularly horrifying about something that happened so senseless in a house of worship, so my heart goes out to the people of Emanuel, and to the people of Charleston. I pray for a community that I know is in pain, and with the hope that tragedies like this will one day come to an end.”
She then went on to give a brief but rousing speech praising them for all their sacrifices saying that she wanted to “shine a light, a really bright light, on all of you and everything that you do for the folks back home.”
Following the speech, she headed for the crowd and handed out hugs and greeted people. I spoke to one 17-year-old girl from Oklahoma City named Camilla Oetlah who had a chance to greet the First Lady and she described Michelle Obama as “just awesome.”
Arlington Chandler from Birmingham, Alabama carried his little girl on this shoulder so she could catch a glimpse of the First Lady. He said he really appreciated her words recognizing the sacrifices that military families make.
The First Lady eventually made her way over to the ice cream tent where she joined her daughters Malia and Sasha and her mother Marian Robinson in serving up ice cream sundaes for the children on the base.
We got a brief chance to film that before being whisked off to the next event in which the First Lady and her daughter took turns reading to a group of 150 children gathered in the gym. The First Lady had some words of advice for the young children that I wish my teenagers would listen to as well. She said, ““But you know what I want you all to do this summer, now that you are out of school and now that you have all these books? What do I want you to do? What do you think? Read! I want you to read, read, read because if you read a lot you will be really smart and you will be able to do anything in the world that you want. Ok?”
And if I had to add my own Mozzarella Mamma two cents on to Michelle’s words for the sake of my teenagers it would be: “yes READ, and get off those damn cell phones and forget about Facetime and Facebook and Instagram and Youtube and read a blooming book or two this summer.”
Trish – I read your blog! And I love it, too.
So are you the mystery woman who said hello to me at Vicenza?? If so, thank you thank you thank you!!!
I read your blog too. I’m always so happy when it pops up in my mailbox. I have loved your coverage of Michelle, the migrants and the pope. You have such an approachable, easy style. If ever you are in Umbria, you are invited to dinner!
Thank you Susan, that is so kind of you. Umbria is not far away, so I may take you up on your generous invite very soon!
. . won’t it be wonderful when there are no US bases outside of the continental US? No soldiers from any country deployed on the territory of another. Re: Charleston. ‘I pray for a community that I know is in pain, and with the hope that tragedies like this will one day come to an end.’ – how about a moments thought for the victims of US drone strikes? The hypocrisy is stunning!
Nice writing on your part, as ever.
Hi Alan — I like the way your comments on my blog force me to stop and think about how I can respond. So here goes….yes it would be wonderful if there were no soldiers deployed on the territory of another country. Actually it would be wonderful if there were no need for soldiers and no wars. If I think about it, I’ve always been a bit of a peacenik. I think I’ve been against every war or military intervention in my lifetime — the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Iraq Wars etc. Perhaps the only moment when I had some doubts was the US-Nato intervention in Bosnia. I felt strongly that the massacre of the Bosnians had to be stopped. So yes, getting rid of soldiers everywhere might be wonderful but not realistic. As far as the US soldiers at Vicenza are concerned, I think they are doing their job — as Michelle said, they were the first troops to go in and help fight Ebola. Can’t think of many people who would have wanted to do that. I also think the US military has many people who opted to join because of the opportunity– the US Military will pay for your university education, your medical school etc, if you serve afterwards. Given the absurd costs of education in the US, I am sure that was the only option for many people. As far as Charleston is concerned, and your comment on US drone strikes, I saw an article in the New York times today saying — I will quote the headline– “Since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly twice as many people in the United States have been killed by white supremacists, antigovernment fanatics and other non-Muslim extremists than by radical Muslims, according to a new tally.” So perhaps instead of the US drones in Afghanistan there should be more efforts to stop fanatics in the US. Finally, on Michelle — you can see I am a big fan and would strongly disagree with you on calling her a hypocrite.
Funny, I think I always feel most patriotic when living overseas. Those songs always make me emotional too, but especially when I am abroad. I guess it is an appreciation for the rights and freedoms we have here that we so often take for granted. Although, get the Red Army Chorus tuned up and I am a weepy mess too! I don’t understand a word of it, but it is powerful music. Perhaps I am more like your cameraman :-)
Isn’t it funny that Pietro was getting emotional too! What is it about a national anthems? And yes, I think when I am living overseas I am more patriotic than in the US. Living in Italy, I obviously see many things that I am critical about in the US, but there are so many things I am proud of — starting with the incredible diversity of our population, and the sense of opportunity the US gives to so many people.
I read your blog too, and I appreciate both your coverage of events and your perspective. And I was at the event in Vicenza. But I didn’t see you. I know who did. I am sure that she will be along soon to say hi.
Yes, it was Dana and she has said hello in a comment. I am so happy you all follow my blog and I would love to meet you too in person too.
This blog is a sensitive mixture of joyful and sad. You portray Michele Obama as sensitive and gracious. It must have been a pleasure to watch her in person. How nice to get unexpected recognition for your Blog. And well earned recognition for your Blog is; thoughtful. interesting, caring and engaged. Cheers from known as well as unknown admirers.
L/D.
Thank you Dad. I know you are one of my biggest blog fans and I always love reading your comments. Indeed, Michelle is sensitive and gracious and it was absolutely the right thing for her to comment on the horrible attack in Charleston, South Caroline. I think the key to Michelle Obama is that she sincerely enjoys being First Lady and a mother. I can’t remember if I mentioned in a reply to a comment in the last post that I covered Hillary Clinton when she visited Naples as First Lady when she was accompanying Bill Clinton for a G7 (8) Summit in July 1994. During the media opportunities Hillary seemed very false — I think she wanted to be with the male leaders (back then they were all men) at the G7 table, not at the lighter weight events for the spouses. I remember Hillary also did not look so great — she looked liked her hair hand been blown-dry and dunked in hairspray in a very old -style First Lady way (Lady-Bird Johnson, Betty Ford style). Michelle definitely has a good hair-dresser.
I read your blog too, Did you meet/see Mary Alice Stephenson of Glam4good in Vicenza? They did a surprise baby shower for military mothers-to-be.
Thank you Mary Jane. Unfortunately I did not meet Mary Alice Stephenson but I will go check out glam4good now. The surprise baby shower for the military mothers-to-be was a “tight pool” for journalists, which meant that only a few journalists/photographers/and camerapersons were allowed in. For TV they just let the US Network pool in, so I missed out.
I read your blog and love it too! Great post btw…
Thank you Laney!! I am so thrilled to hear there are so many people out there who read my blog and enjoy it.
Read! Read! Read! Amen!
Thanks for another interesting entry. I’m not around teenagers like I used to be;however I think I’m lucky I spent so many years with them before the cell phone arrived!
A presto
PS I have to admit I do not yet have a smart phone, just a flip phone I never use. But I do most of my reading on a tablet my brother gave me. He signed me up so I can read his Kindle books!
Yes!! Read, read, read!! It doesn’t matter to me where my kids read – a kindle, an ipad or a book will do — I just want them to read and stop facetiming, facebooking, texting etc. As far as my own reading is concerned, I am very old-fashioned — I like books that I can hold in my hand, and newspapers that I can underline and cut out articles that interest me. For some reason, reading on electronic devices is not relaxing for me.
I’ve had a banner week — I met a favorite Louisiana chef in Milan, John Besh; saw the first lady and her family up close and personal; and briefly met a favorite blogger. It was great to see you in action. You should know that you have several followers from my circle of friends…and each was equally delighted when, at he end of the BBQ in Vicenza, I said, “Mozarella Mamma is here!” As mothers, professionals, and expats in this foreign land, we appreciate your perspective and insight. Perhaps we can meet for a cafe or spritz sometime soon.
D
Dana — thank you so much!!!! I would love to meet for a caffe or a spritz just let me know when you are in Rome!
I love reading your blog Trisha, always well written, interesting and great pics. Thank you!
Thank you so much Paola — I feel so honored by all of you readers telling me you follow my blog and enjoy what I write.
Another wonderful post Trisha and good coverage of the first lady’s visit to Vicenza’s army base. Even with the rah-rah atmosphere, how could she not comment on the Charleston event? It is a sad time for our country, I fear. When I read that NY Times article this morning that you quoted from, I shook my head in disbelief. Despite a black man in the White House, race is still a polemic issue in the states. There are so many wackos who are either mentally imbalanced or grew up in an atmosphere where bigotry was tolerated, or worse instilled into them.
I remember when I was little, my French aunt (who is married to a career Army man) once said that if we had more interracial marriages, everyone would be beige and maybe bigotry would end. Would that it were so!
I like the first lady’s mantra (and yours) to read, read, read. In a way, I am glad my days of parenting young children are behind me. There are so many more distractions to make it harder for parents these days. I applaud those who set limits on their children’s “screen time” and/or eliminate tv from the household. I try to read two books a month, but I know I spend too much time on social media when I could be doing something more beneficial. But your blog is one I won’t give up, that’s for sure.
Hi Linda, thanks so much for your interesting comment and constant support for my blog. The reading thing is really getting to me. I have not found a way to effectively limit my teenagers’ screen time and I fear they really are developing short attention spans and do not read enough. Reading for me has always been a wonderful way to relax and I always have a book I am reading — even if I often fall asleep over it at night. But I, too, spend for too much time on social media. I wish I had time to be part of a book group — I think that must be a good way to force oneself to read more and think about what one is reading. Will put that on my to-do list.