By Linette Caroselli
LINETTE CAROSELLI HAS ON BLUE AND GOLD AS SHE IS A MEMBER OF SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC. CREDIT: FACEBOOK/LINETTE CAROSELLI
Michelle Obama was literally down the street from my hotel in Brooklyn. Her Becoming tour was in town as I visited my family in New York. Unfortunately, every ticket was sold out or being re-sold for some ridiculous amount. So imagine my excitement when shows were added to include additional cities, including the one where I currently reside.
Since Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, I watched our Former First Lady handle with elegance, style and Black Girl Magic two terms of attacks and accomplishments but most importantly, I watched as she made a powerful impact. Not just with Black people but with all Americans and many around the world.
I purchased a VIP ticket so I could have the opportunity to meet this amazing lady. The price was worth it because the way I looked at it, when would I ever have the opportunity to meet a First Lady? Not just a First Lady, but the first African-American First Lady of the United States. This was historical!
My 19 year-old daughter came with me and I was delighted to share this experience with her. As we stood and waited for our turn, my stomach filled with butterflies. They disappeared when I saw her. My child, the bubbly personality that she is, danced up to Mrs. Obama and to everyone’s delight, Michelle danced with her. She admired my daughter’s nails and had a brief but in-depth conversation. She was genuinely interested in what Amber had to say. She gave her a hug and then beckoned me towards her. She leaned down (I am 4 feet 9 inches tall- just picture it) and gave me a warm hug. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said.
“The pleasure is mine. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do,” I replied. It was all I could muster. She thanked me and put her arm around my shoulder and we took our photo. That moment, I will always treasure.
Later in the evening, 600-plus people and I had the opportunity to hear Michelle Obama talk about her experiences from a little girl in Chicago to the White House and today. She shared her hopes for the future. In that moment, I realized what made her so special; the fact that she was relatable. She was us.
