I'm composing this sitting in the rightmost (as facing the podium) seat of the second row in the James S. Brady Briefing Room in the West Wing of the White House.
I just wrote that, I've read it six times, and I still can't believe it!
The White House Daily Briefing we've been told has been put off until 3:00 PM. Apparently there is a State Department Press Conference coincidental with the Medal of Honor presentation to Staff Sergeant Ty Carter, and the White House wants to get their word in after Secretary of State Kerry (or a surrogate) does his presser. I'm going to stick around for at least part of it.
Bill Press just walked by, so that just happened!
As much as I've been made to feel welcome and am starting to feel a bit more at ease, there's still a definite perception of being an outsider. There's clearly a lot of "regulars" who know each other.
The press briefing room is incredibly small - so much more so than it looks on television. There are just seven rows of seats with seven seats in each, so except for standees there's a select crew of 49 who could view a briefing.
Right now, I've got a little less than an hour before the press assembly to head to the East Room for the ceremony, so I'll keep pinching myself and reminding that this is, in fact, real.
By the way, does anybody know whose normal seat I'm sitting in right now?
I hope you will do the right thing.
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