In honor of Father’s Day this weekend, I’m reposting this entry from my blog back in November 2019. This is the story of how I met the Glorious RBG thanks to the best dad in the world.
Last week I met Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Honestly, I’m just as incredulous as you are. You might ask how this happened to go down. Let me rewind a bit…
It was the summer of 2015 and the fantastic editor at Simon & Schuster, Kristin Ostby, sent me an email asking if I’d like to illustrate a picture book about Ruth Bader Gins—wait—that might be a little too far back. Let’s fast forward to two months ago…
It was two months ago. I get a phone call from my dad. “How’d you like to meet Ruth Bader Ginsburg?” He asks. My answer is the same that it was to Kristin back in 2015, an unhesitating “YES!” Is this really a question that needs to be asked? Of course I say yes, but my immediate next questions was, “WhatHowWhenWHY??” Was she coming to Kansas City? No, she was not coming to Kansas City. We were going to her. We were to be her guests in court on November 3rd. Somewhere along the way, I had learned that whenever the Supreme Court is in session, the justices are allowed a certain number of guests. It never occurred to me that I could be one of those guests. And It DEFINITELY never occurred to me that all I’d have to do is ask (and also illustrate a NY Times best selling picture book about the life of a justice. Details.) But ask my dad had done. A few weeks back he had written her a letter that said something to the effect of “my daughter illustrated a book about you and I think you two should meet.” Apparently, Ruth Bader Ginsburg agreed. Gotta love dads.
Early last Sunday morning I said my goodbyes to Zack and Jasper (who I would be leaving for the very first time) and, alongside both my mom and dad, boarded a plane to RBG. We spend the day Sunday hopping around an absolutely gorgeous D.C. We saw Michelle Obama. We ate seafood. We turned in early because Monday was a BIG day. We were due to arrive at court at 9 am. At about 8:45 we walked towards the Supreme Court building to be greeted by a line that wrapped around the corner. Ohhhh, crap. Was that the line to get in? How will we make our 9 am appointment? As we soon found out, we were getting the special treatment on this very special day and got to skip the line. We entered the side door and joined the others who had “reservations in court.”
Every day the court is in session they hear two cases. One at 10 am, one at 11. Two hours total. The first case of the day was a very complicated immigration case, Barton v. Barr. The second case of the day, Kansas v. Glover originated in our very own Douglas County. We quickly befriended the other Kansans in attendance as we waited in line to enter the courtroom. We weren’t allowed any electronics, cell phones, books or coats. BUT we were allowed a pen and paper which is conveniently all I need to spend a very pleasurable morning. I passed the time, listening to the arguments and drawing. If my day had ended right there it would have been a pretty great day. It was such a thrill to see not only RBG, but the other Justices as well. They all spoke quite a bit (all except one) and asked many questions. The selection of judges is so politicized these days—and I completely understand why. But there was something about seeing them all in person, asking intelligent, thoughtful questions that took away that veil of politics and made everyone seem very human. It was refreshing.
y the end of the two hours we were all getting pretty wiggly in our seats, but our morning was only halfway over. After court, we were given a private tour of the building by a docent named Peter who instantly knew the answer to any question we might dream up. We learned about the history of the building. We saw marble columns from Alabama, the most beautiful library I’ve ever seen, and learned all about the meaning of the frieze’s surrounding the courtroom. And then, without fanfare, Peter quietly led us back to the chambers.
Before our visit I had assumed there would be all sorts of protocol: no pictures, put away your cell phones, don’t bring up the President, leave the room to cough, etc… But there was none of this. We were asked to not take candid photos in the chambers, but nothing else was off limits. In the first room sat two assistants. We took a seat in casual leather chairs that sat in front of a roaring fire. The fireplace was adorned with various Supreme Court Bobbleheads. There was art on the wall. I spotted a Maira Kalman painting and, yes, the piece I had sent RBG from I DISSENT. I had always wondered what she thought about her current celebrity status and all the swag that goes along with it. If the decor in her chambers was any sort of clue—she adores it.
Finally, her assistant Lauren, got the call—Justice Ginsburg was ready. To say that our first meeting was surreal would be an understatement. This woman you have studied, drawn and seen the face of on everything from socks to protest posters was now standing in front of me. She was so gracious in expressing her love for I DISSENT. Of course, asked her about the tote bags. She said that it is her favorite bag and has traveled from “coast to coast” with her. She asked us if we had enjoyed our time in court (we did!) and really came alive when discussing the cases. “The first one was so complicated wasn’t it?” She said. YES! We thought it was only us (that RBG, she’s just like us). My dad, a sport fanatic, asked her if she was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. I laughed, but she positively lit up “Oh yes!” She exclaimed. She recalled how, every year in high school, they’d have Dodger’s Day where they’d bus all the students out to see the games. She looked back on those days fondly. But she, noted, that at the time, she had no idea about the racism that Jackie Robinson was facing, not only from Major League Baseball, but from his own teammates.
Now that we were all feeling a bit more at ease, we took a look around her chambers. Photos and memories everywhere. Presidents, opera stars, grandchildren, famous musicians, and of course, Marty adorned her walls. She showed us the cookbook the court put together after Marty’s passing. When we asked her if she cooks she quickly responded that she does NOT, but her daughter does and comes into town once a month to stock her freezer. We inquired about who the baby was in the framed photos on her desk. Her great grand-child. Her first. And, at her request, the recipient of every book I make from here until eternity (future editors take note, ha ha!).
For all her accomplishments, her contributions to our country, and importance that she still holds, it was so humbling to see that her family seems to take priority over it all. This trip had the significance of falling almost a year after the birth of my child, Jasper. There have definitely been days in this past year when it seemed as though continuing a career and raising a child were mutually exclusive activities. RBG is just one amazing woman who has proved that couldn’t be farther from the truth, and in fact, these two life paths might even compliment each other. Thank you Justice Ginsburg for the invitation. Thank you, Dad, for making it happen.
Gah! Re-reading this I got as excited as the first time!