HelloAngel
ONE love, blood, life
By Brenda Clemons
2005.10
Penn University must be a very big fan of U2's Bono. He was the commencement speaker for its 2004 graduating class and was recently invited back, this time to receive an award. And Bono must be a big fan of Penn University, as I'm sure that by this time he has a closet full of awards he has received for his social justice work, yet he chose to go back to Penn University for a second time.
I dressed up in one of my best power suits and boarded the train from Washington DC to Philadelphia. The train ride was pretty cool except for the brief delay we had after boarding and then having to deal with the dining cart being closed and the tight security. It was announced that if you neared the dining cart area you would be asked to show your ticket and if it did not say "dining area" you would be escorted back to your seat. What was in the dining cart?
We arrived in Philadelphia only to find out it was raining. I decided to take the cab only to find a line of people waiting. After waiting in line for about 15 minutes, I finally got a cab--during rush hour on a Friday. My cab driver told me that I would probably get there faster if I walked. I had to agree but I was wearing my power suit with my heels and it was raining.
I got to the auditorium only to find out that I had just missed Bono. He had arrived about 10 minutes earlier and had stopped to talk to people. One excited woman told me that she was able to give him her gift, a scarf that Elvis Presley had given to her mother. She said that Bono accepted her gift but told her that he wasn't "worthy." I was thinking "wow that is a very cool gift" while questioning my own gift for Bono, a small book of spiritual artwork and writings.
The doors opened and we find out that there are reserved sections but not seats so I get stuck way toward the back (sort of like being at a concert). I had paid for the reception but not the dinner and was envisioning a small group of people mingling with Bono (who would, of course, be drinking wine). I asked an usher if they knew how many people would be at the reception and I was told 600 people; one-third of the people in the auditorium were having the same mingling with Bono fantasy as I had.
After several introductions, the fine folks at the World Affairs Council finally turned the microphone over to Bono. Bono, for some odd reason, made it a point to say that he rode the train from Washington, DC to Philadelphia. I just knew I couldn't have heard this right so I asked those around me. All confirmed that he had indeed said train. I may have figured out what was in the dining cart.
By now I'm sure that Interference.com readers have seen the news reports of this event and pretty much know the facts but I must say that it was moving to hear Bono recount his time in Ethiopia with Ali, his wife. Although I'd heard the story before, I could see in Bono's expression and hear in his voice that his mind was taking him back and he was reliving the time that a father asked him to keep his son and take him out of Africa so that he might live.
Bono had us all laughing when he was at a loss for words to describe his meeting with President Bush and the fact that Bush knew a thing or two about the unfair trade policies that have a negative impact on African economy.
After the speech, 600 of us ran the few blocks to the location of the reception. Somehow I was lucky enough to be one of the first to enter the building (sitting near the back of the auditorium had its advantages). The reception was held in a beautiful building but who had time to look, we were all on a mission.
I noticed a red velvet rope blocking off a door. I decided that the rope had to be there for something so I claimed my space. About 15 minutes later Bono came through the door on the other side of the velvet rope. It was like being in a crowd at the backstage door when Bono stops, unorganized with everyone trying their best to get a bit of his attention. Bono started a one end of the rope and worked his way up shaking as many hands as possible.
Finally, it was my turn. Even though I'd met him once before, it had been several years ago and I was looking forward to meeting him again. When he got to me I shook his hand and then quickly put in his hand the book I had for him. He looked down at it and I decided that I'd better tell him that I didn't want him to autograph it so I said, "It's a gift," and he said "thank you." Afterward my friend said she took note that, while lots of people gave him gifts, most he passed on to someone else to hold on to but he held onto mine himself.
All in all, it was a great night. A speech and a handshake are better than going home completely empty-handed.
2005.10
Penn University must be a very big fan of U2's Bono. He was the commencement speaker for its 2004 graduating class and was recently invited back, this time to receive an award. And Bono must be a big fan of Penn University, as I'm sure that by this time he has a closet full of awards he has received for his social justice work, yet he chose to go back to Penn University for a second time.
I dressed up in one of my best power suits and boarded the train from Washington DC to Philadelphia. The train ride was pretty cool except for the brief delay we had after boarding and then having to deal with the dining cart being closed and the tight security. It was announced that if you neared the dining cart area you would be asked to show your ticket and if it did not say "dining area" you would be escorted back to your seat. What was in the dining cart?
We arrived in Philadelphia only to find out it was raining. I decided to take the cab only to find a line of people waiting. After waiting in line for about 15 minutes, I finally got a cab--during rush hour on a Friday. My cab driver told me that I would probably get there faster if I walked. I had to agree but I was wearing my power suit with my heels and it was raining.
I got to the auditorium only to find out that I had just missed Bono. He had arrived about 10 minutes earlier and had stopped to talk to people. One excited woman told me that she was able to give him her gift, a scarf that Elvis Presley had given to her mother. She said that Bono accepted her gift but told her that he wasn't "worthy." I was thinking "wow that is a very cool gift" while questioning my own gift for Bono, a small book of spiritual artwork and writings.
The doors opened and we find out that there are reserved sections but not seats so I get stuck way toward the back (sort of like being at a concert). I had paid for the reception but not the dinner and was envisioning a small group of people mingling with Bono (who would, of course, be drinking wine). I asked an usher if they knew how many people would be at the reception and I was told 600 people; one-third of the people in the auditorium were having the same mingling with Bono fantasy as I had.
After several introductions, the fine folks at the World Affairs Council finally turned the microphone over to Bono. Bono, for some odd reason, made it a point to say that he rode the train from Washington, DC to Philadelphia. I just knew I couldn't have heard this right so I asked those around me. All confirmed that he had indeed said train. I may have figured out what was in the dining cart.
By now I'm sure that Interference.com readers have seen the news reports of this event and pretty much know the facts but I must say that it was moving to hear Bono recount his time in Ethiopia with Ali, his wife. Although I'd heard the story before, I could see in Bono's expression and hear in his voice that his mind was taking him back and he was reliving the time that a father asked him to keep his son and take him out of Africa so that he might live.
Bono had us all laughing when he was at a loss for words to describe his meeting with President Bush and the fact that Bush knew a thing or two about the unfair trade policies that have a negative impact on African economy.
After the speech, 600 of us ran the few blocks to the location of the reception. Somehow I was lucky enough to be one of the first to enter the building (sitting near the back of the auditorium had its advantages). The reception was held in a beautiful building but who had time to look, we were all on a mission.
I noticed a red velvet rope blocking off a door. I decided that the rope had to be there for something so I claimed my space. About 15 minutes later Bono came through the door on the other side of the velvet rope. It was like being in a crowd at the backstage door when Bono stops, unorganized with everyone trying their best to get a bit of his attention. Bono started a one end of the rope and worked his way up shaking as many hands as possible.
Finally, it was my turn. Even though I'd met him once before, it had been several years ago and I was looking forward to meeting him again. When he got to me I shook his hand and then quickly put in his hand the book I had for him. He looked down at it and I decided that I'd better tell him that I didn't want him to autograph it so I said, "It's a gift," and he said "thank you." Afterward my friend said she took note that, while lots of people gave him gifts, most he passed on to someone else to hold on to but he held onto mine himself.
All in all, it was a great night. A speech and a handshake are better than going home completely empty-handed.
