Remix: White House Dinner for Special Olympics, July 10, 2006
 
Wild and crazy hotel.
 
This one's for Dad
 
Special Olympians and the Bushes
 
Nice memento.
 
Approaching Barbara Walters, who grew up in my town.
 
Chocolate S.O. medals!
 
All dolled up

I was invited to a White House dinner in honor of Eunice Kennedy Shriver because of my book, Making Peace With Autism, and my writings about Special Olympics.  The trip was like a dream, the pinnacle of my career as a writer thus far. Our hotel was beautiful and also kind of cool, with its federal-meets-hip-contemporary-sixties-air.

 

 
We look just married!

After some fretting about the wrinkles my gown had acquired on the flight, we got dressed.  Took a cab there and were stopped by Secret Service, who did not have Ned on the list.  Turns out he was listed as "Ned Senator!" 

 

 
See? A tux!
 
Gorgeous place settings
 
Nervous in cab...
 
Governor Arnold and Maria!

Walked in and immediately saw Tim Shriver, who had invited me.  There was a small reception where I met Barbara Walters, Tim Russert, Ted Kennedy, Tom Harkin, Eunice Shriver, and several World Games S.O. Athletes.

 

Then, onto meeting the Prez and his wife, and W and I joked a little about how it was hard to remember protocol like where to stand in a formal photo.  (I had not paid attention to Secret Service's instructions.  The President said, "It's hard to remember these things, isn't it?")  I liked that he was so quick to put me at my ease.  I'm still a total raving liberal Dem, however...

Dinner followed.  All spouses were split up; I was at Maria Shriver's table, Ned was at Mark Shriver's.  Eunice gave a wonderful speech about starting S.O. that brought tears to my eyes, thinking about Natty.

 
Waiting to meet Eunice Shriver and the Bushes
 
My concert companions!
 
Ted listening to Eunice, a real firebrand!
 
The hovering paparazzi
 
A friend from Egypt
 
Tim Russert
 
Leonard Flowers, S.O. Olympian and star in "The Ringer"
 
Vanessa Williams

I made good friends with Leonard Flowers, who was in the movie "The Ringer," and was seated on my left.  A really good guy, who shunned his chilled avocado soup (I wanted to eat his bowl, too, but restrained myself).  Sighed in ecstasy over the chocolate S.O. medals stuck in Eunice Shriver's birthday cake!

 

 
My favorite senator, other than my family!
 
Going to party at St.Regis

 

The best part, aside from seeing Ned in a tux, was the after party with the Shrivers and some S.O. people at the St. Regis!

 
Tim speaking at St. Regis party