Last night my family and I went to a wonderful presentation of “THE PRESIDENT’S OWN” United States Marine Band at the Bryan high school in Bryan, OH. This is the band that has performed for Thomas Jefferson’s inauguration and has performed for EVERY presidential inaugural since! :o Of course they’ve had to get new members over the years as I doubt there’s any still living from Thomas Jefferson’s era! LOL! :lol:

After the concert I tried to get the [b]Director Colonel Michael J. Colburn[/b] to autograph my program. ;-) I waited for him to come out and greet everyone, but he never showed. :( So I asked of the MANY security guards that were patrolling the school where he went. He told me “I believe he’s already on the bus”. So I made my way through the crowd and headed outside toward the tour buses out back. ;-) I meet up with another Security Guard and asked “Is Mr. Colburn already on the bus yet?” the guard told me that Michael had his own private van and then pointed to guy about 10 feet away. “Ask him, that’s his driver” So I walked over and said “Excuse me, Is Mr. Colburn around?” his driver replied “No I believe he’s already left” Left? :? How can he leave without his driver? I thought to myself.

So I said “Well that security guard right over there said you’re his DRIVER!” :lol: He looked at me for a few seconds then went “Oh! Ummmm” (obliviously caught off-guard by my quick, but true reply) then he looked down the street a little ways at a parked white van, turned and looked me again, then turned and looked the van for a few more seconds, then turned and looked me a 3RD time (I know this sounds crazy but it’s true!) Finally he hesitated then said “Follow RIGHT behind me” and off we walked towards the van! :o He knocked on the window and said “Mr. Colburn sir, you have a special request for an Autograph, Do you have minute?” So another security guard inside the van opened the door and Mr. Colburn graciously personalized and signed the insert of my program! :D We chatted for about a minute and then said Goodbye.

I believe I’m the only one to have gotten his signature that night, as nobody who attended the concert was standing close by or even asking for one. :o So I felt pretty special! I forgot to ask him if he was going to be playing for either Obama or McCain when one of them in sworn in about a week & half away as our new president, but I imagine he will!! {thumb2}

So there’s my latest in-person adventure. Though this is the first time I’ve had to encounter Security Guards that looked like & had the arms the size of Sylvester Stallone & Arnold Schwarzenegger! :shock: LOL! :lol: I always thought it was the President who bad guys are trying to Assassinate, not his Director and band members! LOL! :lol:

Program:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j201/RYJALI/Autographs/Michael_J_Colburn_Program.jpg

Autograph Insert:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j201/RYJALI/Autographs/Michael_J_Colburn_Autograph.jpg

RYAN J. [rockon]