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Sandra Day O'Connor, Well Judged
She looked at the hundreds of people -- people who earlier had described the evening as "historic" and "totally awesome" and O'Connor as a "trailblazer," an "inspiration," a "pioneer" -- and expressed dismay that they'd had to stand for so long on the marble floor.
But she held them there for one last thought.
  Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, very much the center of attention last night at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. (By Rich Lipski -- The Washington Post) |
"I truly hope," she said, "I am around and still aware of what is going on" when "our third woman" is appointed to the Supreme Court.
The applause began.
"Our fourth," she continued.
The applause quickened and cheers started.
"And" -- O'Connor persisted -- "wait a minute."
Things quieted momentarily.
"Our fifth ."
The room erupted, again. Women blinked fast, and their eyes glittered, and one man pulled out a white handkerchief and pressed it against his eyelids, as though to push back the tears.
