“We were all over the White House press room. I even bumped into Helen Thomas. That was a rock star moment for anyone with even a passing interest in journalism. I was on my way to buy a couple of bottles of water from the White House Press Room vending machine ($2.00 each) and she was just sitting at a small desk next to the window there. I introduced myself and asked if she’d mind if I took her picture. She didn’t mind and I quickly snapped a couple of shots.

Having a camera sometimes saves me from the embarrassment of asking for an autograph.

If I wasn’t so pressed for time, I’m sure I would have tried to get her to do a “jump shot” photo for me. That would’ve been cool.”

Corrected to show off my now improved ability to catch typos, this was what I wrote in a blog post after having met Helen Thomas in the White House Press Room back in 2009.

I don’t always get a chance to meet people I admire.  This was a great opportunity.

(sigh) I should have asked her to do the jump shot.