R and J in the USA

We converged on Little Rock, Arkansas, with Ryan flying in from home and Julie driving the van from Dallas. Since we would both be arriving late at night and at different times, we decided to get a hotel room and meet there. On the way to the hotel Ryan met Don, the hotel shuttle driver, and struck up a conversation.

A friendly man in his early 50s, Don was a champion of Little Rock, telling Ryan the many things he could see and do while in town. He told Ryan about restaurants near the hotel and about attractions such as the Old State House Museum, the Historic Arkansas Museum, Riverfront Park, and the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.

Ryan mentioned that we would be going to the Bill Clinton Museum, and commented that this would be the first presidential library we visited for a presidency we remember from our adult lives (let alone for any president in our lifetimes). Being around the same age as Ryan, Don gave a knowing chuckle when Ryan said that it felt a bit strange to be old enough to be looking at what was distinctly history, and remember it firsthand.

Ryan asked Don what it was like having a president from his home state, and what it was like being in and from Arkansas during Clinton’s first election.

“It was an exciting time,” Don said. “It was an exciting night when he won for the first time.”

He talked about how the Clinton’s celebrated with the public on election night at the Old State House.

“There was a crowd for twenty blocks. I got about six blocks away. I didn’t get to see them, but it was exciting to be in the crowd.”

He mentioned several times that he wasn’t a Democrat, but he could still appreciate and enjoy the significance of the event and how special a moment it was for Arkansas.