by Bruce Campbell

              New York,  Jan. 20  —   I just got back from JFK airport where my wife and I
              were part of the 2,000  people rallying to welcome the Clintons home from Washington.

              We stood in an aircraft hanger with bands and flags. The crowd, young, old,
              Teamsters and other union members, Asian, African, European, recent
              immigrants -- Hell, we looked like America. Even better, we looked like New
              York.
 

              They showed the films from the 1992 convention "A Place called Hope" and the
              2000 convention "Legacy". Eventually the hangar doors pulled back and we
              stood waiting as the wind and rain came in the opening. Then Air Force One
              appeared and slowly taxied over to stop in front of the door.

              Bill, Hillary and Chelsea walked down the steps with the crowd roaring. We
              were crushed in the happy throng. Then Hillary spoke and introduced Bill.
              Real troupers, they stood in the cold wind for this one last campaign stop,
              one last crowd.

              Bill thanked us for welcoming "Citizen Clinton". Then they left the stage.

              At that point, I guess half the people thought it was over and moved to
              leave. A big hole opened up we and rushed over till we were positioned two
              feet back from the barricades. True to form, Bill started working the line.
              We shook their hands (I actually shook Bill's twice, once on each side of
              the guy in front of me). There were tears in his eyes as he reached out and
              touched hundreds of people.
 Pictures courtesy of Yahoo News

              I felt teary too. It was very exciting, yet tinged with melancholy. This is
              the end of his era. Even the motorcade was shorter, there was no big limo.
              Only one press van. Twenty TV crews. At the same time, I was incredibly
              happy to be present at such a historic moment (and it sure beat watching the
              bandits partying in Washington). The last day of the Real President.

              Peace.

              Bruce Campbell