Back when Bill Clinton was running for his first term in office, he visited St. Louis. I can’t remember the exact date, but I’m thinking it must have been summer time.

At the time, I was a young bachelor and pretty much without responsibility. I spent a lot of time running around St. Louis with my friends, trying to acclimate myself and learn more about the city.

Being a small-town boy, the city had scared me a little in my first few years living here. By 1992, I fancied myself quite the gadabout.

This particular summer day, I had tagged along with a friend of mine to Union Station. It was one of those days where nothing special was planned, just maybe eating lunch and checking out the sights. Union Station was still relatively nice, clean, safe and fun to visit.

That particular day, there was a lot of buzz around Union Station. Being oblivious, my friend and I just figured it was a convention or something of the sort. We really didn’t pay too much attention. But the place did seem rather busy.

Finally, as we ventured outside to our car, we saw large crowds of people lining up on either side of the entrance. Still pretty oblivious and appearing a bit aloof, we asked someone nearby what the heck was going on. “Bill Clinton and his wife are here today,” the lady said.

Bill Clinton? He was running for President, right? Hmm.  The line seemed rather dense, but I guess we were at the right place at the right time. As we walked toward the line of people, we heard cheers and shouts.  Bill and Hillary were on their way down the “gauntlet” of people. Not thinking much about it, my friend and I walked forward and stuck our hands out through the crowd. Bill and Hillary were slowly making their way down the rows of people.  Secret service (do candidates have those?) agents were all around them. A man was walking ahead of them both. He would hold his own hands on either side of each outstretched hand. After he had examined our hand, Bill would shake it. Hillary wasn’t touching anyone.

Bill came by, shook my hand, and said something that I couldn’t hear. Hillary just waved at me and walked on. There were a lot more people to smile at and touch before they would make their way to the waiting limo. It was quite a deal.

I bragged for about a week and recounted the story various times. When school started in the fall, I told the story to my students as we began talking daily about the election and incorporating it into the curriculum as much as possible.

Over the years, I forgot all about shaking Bill Clinton’s hand. This should not be taken as a political statement. It’s just something I rarely thought about. One day, while talking to one of my friends, I was reminded of the day and how much I had bragged about shaking the hand of a president. I could tell this to my kids and grandkids. They may or may not be impressed, but heck, it makes a good story.

When I see Hillary on television these days, I think of that day when she gave me a little wave. That was back in her long hair, headband days. I remember both of them were dressed rather warmly for a summer’s day. They must have found a way to stay cool.

It’s rare that we rub elbows with or meet someone famous, and even though there is no way Bill and Hillary remember, it’s fun to think about shaking the hand of a person who has also shaken the hand of countless other famous folks. And I guess Hillary’s little wave to this insignificant person is sort of cool, too. She’s waved at a lot of folks all over the world.

But I did wash my hand again. I’m a Republican, after all.