¡Obamanos!

I got a note from Rachel today, and it reminded me that I had yet to post this shot of the three amigos from the Obama office here: Dan, the county field organizer; Bob, a volunteer who came down from Chicago for almost all of the campaign; and Rache herself.

Bob was my Cicero on my first day there, knocking doors and sharing stories of our common ties to the City by the Lake. I'm looking forward to the holidays, when he's coming back with his wife, Joan.

As for Dan: What a bundle of nerves, energy and talent. A degree in political science from USC and a plan to go to grad school in conflict resolution and human rights? Perfect for politics (though his taste in scotch will be a bit above his income).

And as for Rachel: At 17, she got her parents' permission to come down to Key West as a staff intern even though it's her crucial senior year in high school, months when she could have been racking up grade points and submitting college admissions instead of artfully managing an office full of volunteers. That's nerve, and faith, I can believe in.

Bob had already left by Election Day, but I asked Dan and Rache when they'd last had a home-cooked meal -- and it turned out to have been August. So we had them over late that week for a farewell dinner, complete with good scotch for one and chocolate mousse for the other. If I'd had rubies, they'd have been on the menu, too.