Professional grade swagger
Riding my bike is a healthy, fun way for me to take in the people and sights of downtown Chicago. This time of year, early-autumn, may be the best season for getting in a good burn, especially at night. The air is cool and crisp, and there’s a different, calming energy than the one I feel when I ride during the day and the streets are more crowded and frantic.
Last Friday night as I headed east on Oak Street, I noticed an unmarked, navy blue Chicago Police cruiser parked on the south side of the street near Michigan Avenue. No big deal, except that this particular cruiser was immaculate. Even the tires were glossy.
In front of the unmarked cruiser were three new, gleaming black Chevy Yukons, with rows of lights in the upper rear and front windows of the trucks, and red and blue lights in the grills. Parked in front of the Yukons was a marked Chicago Police Cruiser, which two obviously drunk white men mistook for a cab and tried to get into. It wasn’t so clean.
“If you guys want a ride, I’ll be happy to give you one,” the smiling officer, an affable, young black man told them. Times have changed.
‘Where’s the VIP?’ I thought to myself. The light at the intersection turned red, which provided the perfect opportunity for me to gather the goings on.
As I waited, I received a text message from a friend telling me about a party later during the evening. “Dress chic,” she wrote. “It’s a sexy event.” *sigh* Isn’t everything that young, black professionals do sexy? Or grown? Or exclusive? Why does having a degree or two, a nice job, a car and a home mean that you one has to get dressed to the nines to go out and about? But here, as I often do, I digress.
After about 10 minutes, two of the men in the first Yukon got out and held the doors open, much the way Secret Service agents do when dignitaries are getting in and out of vehicles. I’ve spied similar scenes in D.C., when I became somewhat accustomed to seeing Secret Service agents hop out of trucks mean mugging onlookers. Still, I had no idea who was going or coming.
I peeped that the convoy was next to Spiaggia, one of Chicago’s über upmarket eateries, but I’ve been there (I thought the food was disgusting and overpriced) and I’m hardly a dignitary, so maybe our location didn’t mean anything.
‘Maybe it’s Jay-Z and Beyonce’,” I thought to myself only half jokingly.
One of the two men who exited the Yukon started speaking to someone, probably whoever was on the other end of the earpiece he was wearing. He pulled a sheet of paper from his inner jacket pocket, closed the door he was holding open and walked to the marked police cruiser. The officer started the car, as did the three Yukons.
Like clockwork, another agent occupied the position that the first agent left.
And then, coming out of the glass doors of Michigan and Oak was none other than Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle. I felt like a groupie.
“Barack,” I yelled, waving and smiling. “Barack! Keep fighting! We believe in you!” Looking somewhat bemused, he waved. Michelle, who was obviously chilly, kept her arms wrapped around herself with eyes straight.
Before seeing Barack stroll out of Spiaggia, where he was celebrating his wedding anniversary, I felt the same way about the word “swagger,” as I do about skinny jeans on men and the now ubiquitous, all-weather/occasion/gender scarves that everyone seems helpless to resist wearing.
But Obama’s swagger was undeniable. He looked more than presidential. He looked like power. Nothing about him clamored for attention, but there was no way to ignore him.
Win, lose or hijinks come November, Barack Hussein Obama is the man.
You are extremely johnny adventure riding a bike in that area - you the one with swagga if you can navigate that area on bike.
Barack and Michelle won regardless of how America votes. It is America who will win or lose Nov 4th. They shown us class and determination never before seen by a generation used to negative portrayals on BET.
Response: That’s kinda my stomping ground now, so it’s become old hat. Plus, traffic is such that I’m able to beat them from point to point.
I couldn’t agree with the bolded any more if I wanted to.
Who woulda figured you for a stan??
Way cool sighting though.
Response: I had to strike much of what you said, only because I don’t want this to become a discussion about me, as it has before.
I really, really, really did not appreciate that episode.
I’ll still take that spanking, though.
Damn, dawg! You actually got to see the Obamas in the flesh? And there was no media around?
I’m kinda mad that Michelle didn’t acknowledge you too.
Hey, if BHO loses, he can embark on a career as a pitchman for the Chevy Yukon. GM needs all the help it can get. LOL!
Response: I know, right? Michelle was, I think, deferring to her husband–appropriately so.
GM is ’bout finished, though, bruh.
That is one cool story, man. Perhap, I should buy a bike and ride it at night. . .oh. . .nevermind.
Response: If you’re up for a good ride along the lake, let me know.
I.envy.you. So you got a glimpse of old 44, huh? Not a bad look.
As you described it, the whole get up sounded like SS, but one can never be too sure. The cleanness of the cars is always a giveaway.
And I’m not even going to get into the proper protocol when you are going to be away from the site. Hmph!!
Response: Well, I have a fraternity brother who is CPD and he has worked on Obama’s security detail before, so I think it was SS/CPD. I know for a fact that CPD is all over his block in Hyde Park, along with SS protection. That has to be the safest block in America aside from a certain stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue.
I went to New York during the weekend. I might write about it.
Wow, what an unexpected but really great thing to bump into! I must admit I’m a little bit jealous. I do get the impression from pictures and interviews with Sen. Obama that he is the kind of person that simply commands attention wherever he is.
Response: I rode an elevator with him when he was campaigning for the senate and though he was outgoing, he had nowhere near the panache he has now.
Ummmm I’m super jealous! I would have been a groupie too. Obama’s my homeboy in my head.
Response:
That made me laugh aloud.
I did kinda lose my composure, though. It was a bit embarrassing.
I thought that’s who it would be. I’m still not putting swagger into my lexicon, but there is a special something about the way he carries himself. I think Friday was their anniversary - he must have been taking his wife out for a nice evening.
Response: Trust me … neither am I. This is the Obama exception.
Aw, you’re such a stan.
Meanwhile, I woulda been calling out to Michelle.
Response: It felt weird but oddly liberating.
You’ve been tagged…check out my blog.
…sorry…I had to do it.
Response: Uh oh …
Totally understand. Sorry for pushing that button. As for your spanking, you know I keep it on reserve for you.
Response: You’re too good to me. Wanna get married?
And the Lord sayeth the same.
Suddenly I feel the urge for new Tom Ford shades to replace the ones I callously scratched with an emery board when I dropped them in my bag. *sigh*
I HEART the Obamas. Michelle is my SHERO. Barack is my HERO.
Yes. I’m drunk. Off some good shit too.
AND???????
Response: Tom Ford is THAT DUDE. His suits are sickening.
Someone told me recently that she read a story about black boys in San Diego (I believe) who are working harder in school because they want to be like Barack Obama. If that isn’t powerful, there’s no such thing. He is the man–period.
The next time I’m home, I may take you up on that.
Response: Please do. It’d be fun.
“But Obama’s swagger was undeniable. He looked more than presidential. He looked like power. Nothing about him clamored for attention, but there was no way to ignore him.”
That is pretty much amazing and I wish I could have seen it myself. Here’s hoping he harnesses some of that power for tomorrow’s debate and the next 28 days.
BTW, what is all this “stan” business? I missed that memo.
Response: I just wish I could have captured it on film (or memory card I guess), but to do so would have ruined the moment and, perhaps, placed my safety in jeopardy. LOL
That I’m aware, “stan” is a term introduced into the hip hop vernacular by Marshall Mathers III, a.k.a. Eminem. It refers to a person who takes fanhood to the next level (read: psycho).
Awesome!! Great story..gave me chills..
Response: It’s something I won’t forget. On a personal level, it’s hard for me to express what it feels like to see a black man poised to become leader of the free world.
Stan = stalker + fan
Response: If you aren’t the best I don’t know what is.
No one on the corner has swagger like the BHO.
Response:
That was the best post I have read in a while! I was Stanin right along with you! That kind of thing never happens in my neck of the woods!
Response: Thank you.
What is your neck of the woods?
I thought Stan was in reference to dude in Eminem’s song, Stan. I wonder if stalker + fan came first and Eminem chose that name or if the similarity is just coincidental.
Response: I don’t know. I do know that the term cracks me up whenever I hear it.
glad this time your bike ride was safer..
I’m jelly though.. but I live vicariously through you
Response: Yanno?
Thanks.
whoa a lot of old people on here who don’t know what a stan is…
What was Michelle wearing? Was her hair done?
Response: Keep it up.
Honestly … I didn’t focus on her much.
My neck of the woods= Scandinavia.( and I do know what a Stan is…)
I am SURE Michelle was air tight and then some…They have the maximum swagger of Bradgelina and the power of hope…
Response: LOL yeah … you probably won’t be seeing the Obamas there anytime soon.
Obama’s swagger game is on a completely different level.
LOL @ “Keep Fighting” - hilarious. That was AWESOME though - I probably would’ve been too excited to speak, but believe me, if I had it would’ve been equally as corny.
*side note - I despise grown and sexy events. If you have to call it grown and sexy, it’s neither grown nor sexy.
Response: I could live a billion years before hearing that phrase again and it would be much too soon.