Your mom and Auntie E ventured to Washington, D.C. when they were in high school . . . on a class field trip. They'd been there a couple of other times, but both were much younger on those earlier excursions. AND this would be their first trip without me along.
The teachers who accompanied them worked really hard to schedule some fun things into the trip, and once of those events would be a visit to the White House. The rules to visit are pretty stringent . . . considering this was a post 9/11 trip! First . . . at least 3 months in advance . . . you have to make a request through your own state's congressman! Once you're approved, the next step is obviously to show up.
When you get to the White House, you must follow the rules:
Present a valid, government issued form of identification (driver's license, passport, etc)
Do not bring: (not limited to) video cameras, iPads, weapons, strollers, handbags, food, etc
Can bring: wallet, cell phone, compact camera, umbrella without metal tips
Call 24 hours in advance to see if any changes have been made to your planned visit
Go potty at the visitor's center . . . you may not use the president's potty
And above ALL means . . . don't question the Secret Service . . . they take their jobs seriously!
So, the teacher obviously submitted all of the participants' names since a list of visitors is required. They listed your mom as Caitlain . . .
. . . after all, that's her name . . .
. . . but not the name on her driver's license.
When they were checking in to start the tour, your mom was yanked out of line by the Secret Service . . . NOT KIDDING!! I told you they were serious about their jobs! The teacher who'd set up this particular tour did not realize her first name wasn't Caitlain. Pretty sure it scared the daylights out of her . . . and all of the other kids! They came close to denying her entrance. In the end she got to join the rest of the kid on the tour.
In an ironic twist of fate, the teacher who'd worked so hard to put this particular part of the trip together left her driver's license at the hotel. She was denied access to the White House . . . had to wait on the bus. 3 months of preparation ruined in one split second "Should I take my purse or not?" Yep, her wallet was in her purse . . . which she left at the hotel . . . because purses aren't allowed.
"A man has honor if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so." ~ Walter Lippman
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