Oh My Goodness!!! I Said What To Whom???

     With Super Tuesday Primary Elections going on today I couldn't help but reminisce about my first political interaction.  No, it isn't a proud moment in my past but rather of some embarrassment as I look back on the moment.  Only certain things happening in the world caught my attention: Berlin Wall coming down, perhaps some natural disasters of earthquakes or tornado's but never politics.  When I was a child I remember Oliver North being on every channel during the summer talking about selling something to the Contra's over some hostages.  All I knew was that he was interrupting my summertime cartoons.  This was the down side of not having cable.

     Zoom ahead to the year 1995.  I was 18 and a senior in high school.  We just moved across state from Saginaw to Grandville.  At school I was in a program called "Close-Up" which centered around seeing how the government worked and we got to go to Washington D.C.   For me it was a trip to D.C. - a town rich full of history and I wasn't a bit interested in the politics of it.  I was barely pulling a C- in Government class as it was and I had to pass that to get my high school degree. 


I was the 3rd one from the left. 

     We were on our way back from a week in Washington D.C. when our plane encountered some bad weather.  It was delayed for several hours.  We were supposed to return around 9pm but we actually didn't arrive at the high school until 2am.  The teachers made it clear that since they had to be in the classroom in a few hours that they expected all of us to be in the classrooms as well.  I did what any entitled high schooler would do.  I begged my mom to call in for me so I could sleep in.  She said I was 18 and I could call in for myself and that she wasn't going to.  I didn't call in nor did my mom so the school considered that I skipped.  For my punishment I got one hour of out of school suspension (OSS) for each hour I skipped.  Basically the school rewarded me with an extra day off.  Cool.  I could use an extra day off.  No problem!

     My mom didn't see the humor in it.  She dragged me to her office in the state building the next morning to help out with case files and other office work.  This was torture.  Put me back in school!  Wasn't there child labor laws to protect me from this torment?!  The day was long and boring.  I was dozing off fast.  

     I had myself drapped across the office chair, head tilted back and possible drool dripping off my cheek.  I heard my mother talking and laughing with someone.  Then I heard these words, "You better be nice to me because you are coming up for re-election."  

     I sat up and looked over at him rudely interrupting, "WHO ARE YOU?"  

     The mystery man responded proudly, "I am Ken Sikkema, Michigan State House of Representatives for the Grandville 74 District." 

Ken Sikkema Majority Floor Leader, Michigan State House of Representatives 1995-1996
Representative, Michigan State House of Representatives, District 74, 1986-1998

     Before I continue with the dialog I want to flash back a few weeks prior.  In Government class we had a test over who was who in our government.  Who was our Governor, Lt. Governor, Sec. of State, our district senator and representative and all the way down to other local Grandville officials.  Since I was new to Grandville and at the time I really didn't care at all for politics so to put it bluntly I failed that test.  Back to the conversation...

     I straightened myself up in the chair and my face just beamed with excitment.  Before I could think and with my finger pointing right at him I opened my big mouth and proudly stated, "I JUST FLUNKED YOUR NAME ON MY GOVERNMENT TEST!!!" 

     After I said that I realized that wasn't the best way to make a first impression.  He laughed, shook my hand and said he hoped that after this meeting I will pass his name next time.  I soon realized what a scene that must of been with Mr. Sikkema talking with my mom and here I was snoozing away across the office chair behind her.  It has been 17 years and I still haven't forgot who he was.