I was in my seat by 3:20. The nomination speeches for Clinton and Obama started well before most of the delegates had made it into the hall. But the room filled quickly. Roll call was an incredible experience. The Kansas delegates all had beautiful sunflower corsages. We watched the voting move through the states alphabetically. When the roll call came to Kansas we were all pressed in together, electrified by the moment.

As the states rolled along, a commotion arose to our right. Security began blocking off part of the floor and it became clear that someone of significance would be entering the hall. Since the path led straight to the New York delegation, it wasn’t hard to guess who. Excitement mounted and cameras were ready and waiting. New Mexico’s yield to Illinois. Then Illinois’ yield to New York. Hillary Clinton was ushered through to join her delegation and the moment was drawn out for even more effect.

It was an emotional moment in the hall as Senator Clinton handed the nomination to Barack Obama. Two dedicated Clinton delegates from Kansas were seated in front of me and I was moved to tears myself as they hugged each other with tears streaming down their faces. The crowd erupted with applause. Cheeks still wet, one of the women then turned around to face me, smiled, and pulled an Obama shirt from her bag. She slipped the Obama t-shirt on over her other shirt, ready to turn her energy to a new campaign. I think it was one of the most moving moments of the evening for me.

The room was alive with patriotism. As Melissa Etheridge sang on the stage, the crowd joined along, hands in the air and bodies swaying as if at a concert. “Give Peace a Chance”, “Born in the USA”. And then, an emotional “God Bless America.” It struck me as sad that protestors this week have sometimes shouted at us that we are not patriotic because we are Democrats. What nonsense. Democrats and Republicans alike are patriotic. Disagreeing about policy does not amount to a lack of patriotism. There were so many patriotic moments Wednesday evening. Flags waved most of the night, a sea of inspirational red, white and blue. When service men and women came to the stage, the audience erupted into standing ovations. The crowd was brought to tears by the presentation of a beautiful young Asian helicopter pilot who lost both her lower legs in Iraq. Support for the troops was a battle cry for the evening – support in terms of a responsible foreign policy, adequate equipment, and health care and support for families. Tears were abundant during a moving video honoring our service men and women.

The fire marshall but a stop to the overcrowding. As a result, it was almost impossible to leave the hall even for the bathroom. At one point, shortly before the prime time speakers were to begin, I left the floor. When I tried to re-enter I found myself in a line 15 deep and 5 across of delegates who were all being told we could not enter. We all claimed to have open seats waiting for us inside, but the gate keepers were suspicious. A couple of delegates and I tried to talk guards into letting us pass through a closed reception area right above our delegation’s seating, but we were refused. I finally ended up entering at a different gate, having to climb over a railing, slide past several delegates from another state, take a set of steps down to the bottom floor, and then climb up another set of steps up in order to rejoin the delegation. Needless to say, I did not avail myself of another bathroom break for the rest of the evening. And I never got supper. My little adventure proved fortuitous, though. As I was pressing around people en route back to my seat, a stranger grabbed my shoulder, stuck a camera in my hand and asked me to take a photo. I agreed. I turned, and looking through the view finder I found myself face to face with George Stephanopolis. I lowered the camera and, rather stupidly, said “hi”. To his credit, he just smiled and said “hi” back. I snapped the picture, then thrust my own camera in someone else’s hand and begged for a picture. Disappointment, though, when I reached my seat and tried to view the picture only to discover that it didn’t take.

It was an evening of so many terrific speakers. Evan Bayh. John Kerry. Bill Clinton. And, of course, the acceptance speech by Joe Biden. Having Obama make a “surprise” appearance was a special treat. I probably was not alone in having received a cell phone call from family watching on tv who saw the story break that Obama was heading into the hall, but it was clear that many delegates had no idea until he stepped on to the stage.

Another amazing day in the life of a delegate.