The Kelley Story - Granite Grok

The Kelley Story

Kelley Paul

Guest post by Kristin Noble of Bedford, NH.

When she walked in, you could feel the energy in the house change.  Then suddenly, this angelic presence stood before me with her hand out, saying, “Hi, I’m Kelley Paul”.  It took no more than that to realize how truly warm and friendly she is.

She moved about the room, taking pictures with everyone who wanted.  As we stood in the kitchen, chatting among friends, I noticed how easily and comfortably she fit in with us strangers and how approachable she was.  It just seemed natural to call her “Kelley”, because she felt like a fast friend.

“Mrs. Paul”?  That’s her mother-in-law, Carol.

We moved to the living room, where she said a few words about her new book, True and Constant Friends.  You could hear a pin drop when she told the story of her beloved Grandmother, Julia O’Toole, who, in 1929 at the age of nineteen, traveled from Ireland to the US to find work and send money back home to her family.  So, unlike Hillary Clinton’s false or exaggerated claims about her grandparents, Kelley’s grandmother actually was an immigrant.

Kelley’s knack for storytelling is undeniable.  I got a little teary-eyed as she spoke, because you could sense and appreciate the love she felt for Julia, which made me miss my own grandmothers.  Without question, she captivated us as her audience, like a group of first-graders sitting on a rug, listening to their teacher read a fantastic story.

When she was finished, everyone lined up to have their books signed.  As I stood waiting, I pictured her welcoming Heads of State to the White House or showcasing the Blue Room Christmas Tree display for a national news program.  As I imagined this, I experienced very strong feelings of wanting to protect her, like one of America’s finest treasures.  My true and constant friends, the “Honey Badgers”, will happily run block and tackle for her during her visits to New Hampshire, like only a Honey Badger can.

As she was signing my book, I felt comfortable enough to tell her that we would “have her back” whenever she comes here.  If she needed to get away from the campaign trail, we’d take her to a salon, the beach, or anywhere she wanted; we will take care of her.  She laughed and said, “by October, I’ll probably need that”.  I’m thinking we are all going to need some of that TLC by then, knowing what’s in store for us in the coming six months.

After meeting her, I understood – even more – what they mean when they call her Rand’s “Secret Weapon”.  Her very soul lights up the room.  She is intelligent, gracious, well-spoken, and a gorgeous human being, both inside and out.

As I walked back to my car I said to myself, “Kelley Paul is going to the White House and I sure do hope she takes Rand with her”.

photo credit: Yahoo News

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