Special Delivery
Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 6:18 PM I was rushing to get ready for class today when a manila envelope slid under the front door of my apartment. I'm accustomed to the whoosh sound of takeout menus passing through, and assumed this was the same. Was I wrong! As I picked up the envelope, and saw "White House" typed in the return address corner, my heart began to race. I grabbed scissors and carefully snipped one side, intent not to damage the contents with a haphazard tear. Inside I found a brief, lovely note from the First Lady, signed "Michelle Obama". Needless to say, this note has more than made my day. It is an absolute honor to hear from Mrs. Obama, and her sentiments make it all the more meaningful.
With some frequency, I'm asked if I've had contact with the First Lady. And until now, I had not. I usually answer along the lines of, "I'm sure Mrs. Obama has more important things to do than to be bothered with some pesky blogger," which I still imagine to be true. But it delights me to no end to have this piece of correspondence, which I will treasure. Last year I sent Mrs. Obama a copy of "Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy" with a personal note enclosed. The note received today is in reply. I wanted to share it here, as each one of you contributes so much to this blog. In that sense, this note belongs every bit to you as well. For me, it is a reminder of what a kind and genuine First Lady we are so fortunate to have in Mrs. Obama.
Reader Comments (97)
Wonderful!
Nice ...very nice and sweet of Mrs O.....enjoy
Nice!!!! Congratulations!!!!! This is something to keep forever and pass down to your children and grandchildren.
Awesome! So nice of her to reply. Very classy and down to earth person!
WOW!!!...I'd have DIED!!!!!! So very nice of her and so very nice for YOU!
WOW!!! I can not even imagine how you must have felt...you deserve the attention and the accolades because you were ahead of the game with this blog and your book, CONGRATS, Mrs T!!!
OMG! This is the best ever! It even made my day! Can't wait to tell husband about it!
Oh my gosh, Mrs. T. I'm tearing up for you. What a wonderful acknowledgement! Mrs. O is an incredibly lovely and thoughtful person, as are you. CHEERS!! You must be on Cloud 9!!
So happy for you, Mrs. T! What a wonderful surprise and acknowledgment, and very well deserved!
Congratulations Mrs.T :)
I am so excited for you!!! I remember preordering your book. I was pleasantly surprised to get it early. It is prominently displayed on my coffee table. I love our FLOTUS! I just hope we have her for a second term. Which means a second book, right? :)
Oh Mrs. T.......how fantastic!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!I had to come out of blog comment hibernation to say how wonderful for you!!!!! You so deserve this for your contributions and good vibes toward Mrs. O---and I've always had a hunch that Mrs. O's staff may be regulars to your site. I hope one day you get that WH invite for a personal interview with the First Lady!!!
That is just so very kewl! What a lovely note! I can understand why it made your day. It would have made mine too!
Oh wow! Mrs. O wrote what we all think of your work and this blog. Yeah!
I am so happy for you and thanks for sharing!
This blog and our amazing First Lady serve as reminders to me that women of virtue have the "law of kindness" on their tongues. Let us celebrate each other and our First Lady during Women's History Month.
Congrats! How wonderful for you :) I just love Mrs. Obama.
Janelle, totally co-signing with you. I'm pretty sure Mrs. O's staff reads the blog and Mrs. T deserves this honor. So glad for you Mrs. T. Everyone needs encouragement and I know this goes a long way.
Dear Mrs. T - WOW for you! How lovely that she took the time to tell you THANKS. I for one appreciate all the work that goes into this blog. Congrats again!
You deserve it. What a feel good for the day! I hope Mrs. Obama stops by your blog from time to time. I think she would enjoy the tribute to her fashion and style. KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC JOB!!
O. M. G.
That is so sweet. I would have passed out on the spot. Congratulations Mrs. T!
How thrilling, Mrs. T! Congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! that is so cool :)
Mrs T, this is well deserved. Congrats.
How wonderful and exciting! Save that note!!
Wow! Congratulations. Simply wonderful.
Congrats Mrs. T on your acknowledgement from First Lady Michelle Obama. How awesome to have a letter from the First Lady to cherish forever.
Oh great!!!! How wonderful for you---and isn't that just like her?
What a lovely note Mrs. T. I am so happy for you. I think it is wonderful that Mrs. O took the time to recognize your tireless contributions to this blog. It is truly a first of its kind and definitely one of a kind. Kudos to you!
Congrats Mrs.T! Frst your beautiful wedding, then this lovely, highly personal acknowledgement of your labor of love...the book. I don't know what's in your future but I sense a Trifecta in the making, and deservedly so. Thanks for all you do!!!
Thank for your hard work with the blog, Mrs. T! I appreciate it and I ditto your comments on the kindness of our first lady. You're both a blessing!
W-O-W!!! I just knew that this would happen one day. You have been so generous and so classy and dignified in the way you have handled this blog and your marvelous book will always be on my coffee table, you had to be rewarded and appreciated by this incredible first lady. You are kindred spirits. Congratulations and well deserved.
I'm thrilled and delighted for you, Mrs. T! How incredibly gracious and kind of the 1st Lady to acknowledge your efforts. I just love her! Congratulations!
All I can say is WOW!! I'm so happy for you, Mrs. T!
I am beside myself! This is so exciting.
Wow, Mrs. T! Congratulations!!! What an honor!!!
That just shows what a compassionate, wonderful first lady
we have!!!
A letter from the First Lady! Thank you for sharing it with us, Mrs. T. I have always held the notion that Mrs. O is plugged into this blog in some shape, form, or fashion. She is too savvy not to be.
What a priceless item for you to treasure always!
Mrs T, you clearly deserve it and I sincerely mean that. I have been a member of this blog since the campaign days and although I didn't become a member until after the election I have always admired the way you manage this site. Your book takes pride of place on my coffee table and has made many Christmas and birthday gifts for my girlfriends.
Therefore I am not surprised that Mrs Obama took the time to thank you for your efforts. Trust me when I tell you that it is only a matter of time before you get that invitation for tea at the White House. This is sooooo typical of Mrs Obama and should remind us all of how she managed to mentor a student, who became a senator and then The President and THEN after all that has managed to become the best and most hardworking First Lady in my lifetime. People who make a difference are the people that get noticed.
Congratulations and well done and thanks for sharing your great news with us all.
How incredibly special! And even more so to think that Mrs O has seen the amazing work you have done on her and will always have your book. Here's to you one day being able to sit down with her for a one-on-one interview!
OMG!! Mrs. T, I am so happy for you and I want to give my sincerest thanks for you even sharing it with us. This blog is so special and I want to thank you for creating it and keeping it going.
Wow, a letter from Michelle Obama! I'm sure I would have passed out. She is truly the BEST!
I would have fallen over in a hyperventilatey kind of way....
Mrs T this is a richly deserved acknowledgement of the style and dignity of your beautiful book. As Jestina says, this is a much prized book (I am riDONKulously proud of my copy) for those of us that have it and I am not in the least surprised that Mrs O has appreciated it and sent you a kind note. The book's merits include meticulous research, the respect with which you write of Mrs O, the designers and industry insiders with whom you have spoken, and the tribute paid by sumptuous layout and photography.
I only have one question: when are you going to publish Part the Second?
Thanks for this post Mrs T. I am so thrilled for you. I check this blog most days but this is my first comment. I really love keeping up to date with Mrs O and the world of fashion via this blog and just bought your book. It is gorgeous! Keep up the great work and enjoy this wonderful moment.
What a thrill for you, Mrs. T! Well deserved. Your blog is one of the first I turn to every morning and I appreciate so much your bringing us a glimpse into Mrs. O's life..
Edith
I'm so happy for you, Mrs. T, you certainly have earned it, many thanks for the book and this blog!
I am so happy for you (us)! I would have fainted when I saw the envelope! I can't believe I'm getting teary eyed! You deserve every bit of congratulations for a fabulous book. I love my copy. That note is the best thank you note ... ever!!!
Mrs.T, That is the coolest thing. Just reading the note (and it's not even mine) was tear jerking. FL is truly an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G woman. Truly phenomenal!!
I think you should frame it.
That is really cool!
It seems that you both (Mrs. T and Mrs. O) have a lot of elegance and class. An observation based on information that I have. Please do not take this the wrong way...I hope that you conduct this website as though Mrs. O were reading. I'm sure there are a lot of people hoping to influence you as a result of the popularity of this site...
I can feel the thrill. Thank you for sharing it with all of us. Enjoying the happiness of another person is one of life's finest pleasures. Brava, Mrs. T!
Very cool. You've been a fashion disciple for Mrs. Obama. Keep up the good work. I enjoy checking out your website everyday. Blessings
I am so proud of and happy for you! This acknowledgement is so well deserved. Enjoy and celebrate!
**Clink Clink** (Champgne Toast!)