Posted by
The INFORMER (Cokie907@yahoo.com) on Tuesday, September 08, 2009 12:51:00 AM
Folks, I just got home from the Zach Wamp picnic in Chattanooga and let me say that I'm blown away! The food was awesome, the music was rockin', the weather was mostly cooperative until the storms hit.....but the best part......the PEOPLE!
You ever heard the saying that it doesn't matter what you do or where you do it, so long as you do it with the right people? Well, I've lived my life by that precept and tonight was a living testament to what I believe. Everyone was top notch, whether it be the people greeters at the gate directing traffic, the folks selling t-shirts, the ice cream cone "vendors" (though they didn't take any money) or the candidates walking around lobbying for their own important causes.
The best part of all was being able to meet the Wamp family and I met each of them, one by one. I met one of Congressman Wamp's aides not long after arriving on site. She greeted me warmly as I bought a nifty campaign T-shirt to be worn proudly. We chatted about who was at the event and what would be going on later in the afternoon. Then......BAMMO! Zach appeared off to my right, so I ran off to shake the hand of the next governor for the great state of Tennessee.
A little bit later, after the "feeding frenzy at the zoo" died off, I decided to get me some grub at the buffet line. As the wind whipped up and plates started flying, this adorable young gal walked up to hit the buffet line alongside me. I looked at her and realized that she was a very familiar looking face. I said "I know I've seen you before ...don't tell me...you're Zach Wamp's daughter, right?" She laughed and admitted her identity to me as we chit-chatted and filled our plates.
Not long after, Coty's brother Weston walked up and saw me. I told him that we had met briefly at a Wamp event in Maryville, TN on the 11th of August. He laughed and said "Oh yeah, your the Meat and Potatoes Man, I've read your stuff on the web". I was blown away to say the least that he remembered me, let alone that he read some of my polemic creations. Very powerful stuff folks!
Finally, as the thunderstorms left the area and things were winding down for the night, I made my way out of Mr. Coker's barn to see that diehard political types were still gathering in circles of trust. I noticed a few friendly faces and then a face appeared that I recognized for a second but it took awhile to register. After thinking about all the people I had met and how few people were left at the function, I had no choice but to conclude that I was meeting the "Big Enchilada", the martriarch of the Wamp family. I took her hand and said "You must be Mrs. Wamp, it's a pleasure to meet you." Indeed, it was Kim, the woman who has helped Zach become the titan in the United States House of Representatives over these 14 glorious years. What an accomplishment for sure and she must be so proud!
So there you have it. A view of the Wamp Labor Day picnic through these two eyes. No doubt there will be more observations and tidbits to offer in the coming months as the Tennessee governor's race heats up but for now let me just say that this family would make Norman Rockwell proud as they are "Americana" all the way.