…and then we heard his unmistakable bellowing voice from our lobby (and a strange accompanying whistle from somewhere in the distance):
“Greg Wright! Show yourself! We have a meeting here, and I aim to keep it!”
The newly broken front door allowed the wind to wrap itself around the congressman. With the afternoon sun at his back, all you could see was Rick Larsen’s high plains poncho flapping in the wafting breeze as he stood with his hands at his sides, ready for any frontier mischief.
Steely-eyed RAM CEO Greg Wright laconically rounded the corner to the lobby.
“You’re in my neighborhood now, Larsen.” Pause. “And I never miss a meeting.”
The same afternoon sun that was warming Larsen’s back, now caused a gleam and flash as it reflected off Wright’s wry smile. Recently commissioned Deputy Kreston Welch arrived – winded – from behind Greg, having run from his law office to broker peace between these well known hombres.
“What in the WORLD?? He just busted your door, GW!”
Wright offered a devil-may-care glance at Welch, and then returned his gaze to Larsen. “That’s right, Welch. He most certainly did. But I have a feeling…” – and here Wright cocked his Stetson ever so slightly – “…that my friend Larsen will make it right.”
Wright and Larsen stared each other down for what seemed an eternity – Welch glancing back and forth between them with squirrel-like rapidity…anxious beads of sweat trickling down his face. What would these two men do?
OK. Sorry. I can’t keep this up any more. I give.
Here’s the truth: Representative Rick Larsen’s visit was so amiable, normal, and friendly that I felt duty bound to make it sound a bit more dramatic than it was. In reality, Larsen is a very calm, cool, and collected fellow. He shared with us some things that weren’t surprising (he’s not a huge fan of living in D.C.) and some things that were surprising (he logs 120,000 miles a year in duties representing his constituents). After some time chatting with Greg, Kreston, and other RAM employees, as well as a tour of RAM seeing what we do, and how we do it so well, Larsen went on his way.
And all too soon, it was over. We all waved goodbye as he and his horse crested the hill and disappeared into the sunset drove out of the parking lot.
