Note to self.. Don't startle the secret service guys..

OK, this is pretty funny.  So back in 1988, Shelly and I went to the 4th of July parade in nearby Wyandotte.  Vice President George Bush was going to be there with his wife Barbara and we wanted to be a part of the big event. We wanted to snap a picture but we couldn't get anywhere near the stage where Bush made his speech.  So we did the next best thing and walked around the back of the trailer and staked out a primo spot near the back door where the entourage would eventually exit. 

After a while he finished the speech and we heard the crowd applauding so we knew he'd be coming through the door any moment.  The door swung open and the stream of people started to leave, but they weren't looking our way as they left.  We didn't go through all that effort just to get a picture of the back of his head.  Like Dana Carvey would say.. Nah-gah-do.  So when Bush came through the door and started to walk away I screamed out from about 15 feet away.. "HEY GEORGE!"  I don't know why I thought I was on a first name basis with the Veep, it just came out.  It worked though.  My yell caught his attention for about 2 seconds.  He turned around and waved and Shelly snapped the picture.  Perfect!

HEY GEORGE! photo by Shelly Sute 

We didn't realize until the photos were developed that we probably spooked the secret service guys by hiding out back and startling them all like that.  Observe the one guy in front who immediately stepped between Bush and me.  Observe some other secret service guys reaching into their pockets.   If you look real close there are even guys on the roof of the building across the street.  They probably had us in the crosshairs at the time.  Ha.  Note to self, be careful not to startle the secret service guys next time.  They don't like surprises.        

And this is cool, in Bush's presidential library there is an official photo from that same Wyandotte summer morning in 1988.   I like the picture Shelly took better.  Way more interesting to catch a bunch of secret service guys off guard like that.   

Vice President and Mrs. Bush attend the July 4th Parade in Wyandotte, Michigan.
04 Jul 88