The old man and the Marine

 January 2017
 

One sunny day in January 2017, an old man approaches the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue where he’d been sitting on a park bench. He speaks to the U.S. Marine standing guard and says, “I would like to go in and meet with President Obama.”


The Marine looks at the man and says, “Sir, Mr. Obama is no longer President and no longer resides here. ” The old man says, “Okay,” and walks away.




The following day the same man approaches the White House and says to the same Marine, “I would like to go in and meet with President Obama.”


The Marine again tells the man, “Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Obama is no longer President and no longer resides here.” The man thanks him and again just walks away.



The third day the same man approaches the White House and speaks to the very same U.S. Marine, saying, “I would like to go in and meet with President Obama.”


The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looks at the man and says, “Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Obama. I’ve told you already that Mr. Obama is no longer the President and no longer resides here. Don’t you understand?”



The old man looks at the Marine and says, “Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it.”


The Marine snaps to attention, salutes, and says, “See you tomorrow, Sir!”