My Tuesday started with a car accident. In my precious blue 2013 Mazda. Oddly enough, that was far from the most interesting thing that happened to me on Sept. 17.
Who knew this unfortunate event would lead to an encounter with the former First Lady of the United States — at Costco?
Yes. I was there when Michelle Obama made a random and surprising appearance. On a Tuesday, in Livermore.
The crash happened on the way to class. It wasn’t a terrible accident. Thankfully, all parties walked away unharmed. Still, I was shaken up, as one could imagine. Tears were shed.
Things still, ended up OK. More than OK. It proved to be a blessed day. I made it to school. Attended class. Even got through a basketball practice. My teammates and I were leaving the gym when we decided to go get food. After the accident though, I didn’t want to get in my car. My friend offered to drive me. Starving and broke, with only a Costco Card to save us, we did what broke Las Positas students do — took advantage of the hot dogs and pizza at Costco. There’s a reason LPC is playfully dubbed “the college behind Costco.”
I’d never been so lucky to be left with a last-ditch lunch option.
A mile from our campus, Michelle Obama was just hanging out at our local Costco, promoting a drink from her new brand, PLEZi Nutrition. Obama, who famously and consistently encouraged a healthy diet as First Lady, is the co-founder of the food and drink health company. On what seemed to be a mini-marketing tour, she clearly decided to come to the Costco down the street from my school to see me. She knew my day needed a boost and she showed up just to brighten my day with her trademark smile.
Let a girl fantasize, would ya? I had a hard day.
Before we got our food, we walked around the warehouse. You know, just hanging out at Costco like broke college students tend to do. Suddenly, out of nowhere, my friend Tamia Herring, also a guard for the Hawks, yelled, “Holy s***! Is that Michelle Obama?!?” We nearly broke our necks in shock.
My friend was immediately shushed. Workers were trying their best to keep it lowkey. Still, everyone had their phones out, attempting to get their own little flick of Obama, no matter how many times her bodyguards said, “No photos.”
It was surreal. A true Costco card stroke of luck. I’ve never been so close to someone so famous. I’d always been a fan of our First Lady because of how she inspired little girls like me to become something no matter how we’re labeled or whatever our skin color.
I called my friend, Jaylen Dunbar. He’s a political science major who studies law. I knew he’d appreciate my close encounter with majesty. Then I called my aunt Tita who is a huge fan of Michelle Obama and always shops at the same Costco. I had to rub it in a little.
It was the best turnaround after an unfortunate start to the day. It went from having a story to tell my parents and the car insurance company to having a story to tell my children. And their children. About the time me and Michelle Obama hung out at the Costco in Livermore.
Top Illustration: Michelle Obama, co-founder of Plezi Nutrition, talks with children during the 2016 Kids’ State Dinner. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)
Sydney Breckenridge is the Arts & Entertainment editor for The Express. Follow her on X, formally Twitter, @SydBreckenridge.
