Kamala Harris took the stage at the Chevalier Theater in Medford, MA, for an afternoon dedicated to her memoir 107 Days, but not before giving us a true taste of “the show must go on” in the face of a few, let’s say, unplanned interruptions.
Chevalier Theater clearly wasn’t quite prepared for the event and the number of Meet and Greets that were being sold – assuming that it would be over in 30 minutes, and by that time only ADA had gotten through the line. At 1pm it was clear the doors were not going to be opening for a 2pm start, especially with the additional security screenings needed.
When Kamala Harris finally took the stage, the crowd erupted in applause and a standing ovation. The moment Kamala spoke was pure magic. She was poised, brilliant, and charming, effortlessly weaving through stories from her 107 days in the White House—those early, chaotic days where the nation was trying to sort itself out amidst a global pandemic and the fallout from a fractured political landscape. Most notably was recalling her time at “Debate Camp” and how they try to prepare you for everything but there were several things that ended up happening that she had not been prepped for – notably the fly in her VP debate. Kamala spoke with a warmth and grace that felt like you were sitting with a dear friend, but with that unmistakable presidential edge. And the crowd loved it.
A handful of very vocal individuals who, true to form, couldn’t let the moment go by without adding a bit of drama. But no sooner had they shouted their grievances than security swooped in, like a stealthy eagle, escorting them out before you could even say “civil disobedience.”
Unfortunately the theater failed with their ADA accommodations – not allowing me to park in the lot despite their site saying that there would be spots available, leaving the line out in the cold before the meet and greet while the general line was allowed to be inside and then not knowing how to communicate amongst the staff and Kamala’s crew as to how things were going to work. Fortunately the event itself was wonderful enough that all the hassle ended up worth it.