I arrived in D.C. late Sunday night and finally made it to the baggage claim. You know how much I hate flying, anyway, I'm really tired, but I look up as the bags are going by and I see Ben Vereen standing next to me. He's got a big smile in his face. I say, "Hi Ben, I'm John."

Vereen: How are you? What a wonderful time...

Amato: Yes it is. The flight attendant announced as we were landing that there's a new President in town and everyone on the plane started clapping and cheering.

He asked me what I did and I said that I play some music, but mostly I'm a political blogger these days.

Vereen: Who did you study music with?

Amato: Milt Hinton...

Vereen: I bet you're pretty good.

Amato: I'm OK...

We laughed...

I said that it was an intense election and there was a lot of right- wing spin that liberal bloggers had to defend against. To which Vereen responded,"That is so beautiful...."

He agreed to take a picture with me. I gave my phone to a man standing next to us and he snapped a quick shot. At that moment, my big bag came around and I missed it. Ben quickly moved to his right and snatched it off the carousel:

Vereen: Here you go, and you have a wonderful time in D.C.

Amato: And the same to you.

He had that big smile on his face, we shook hands and I left. What a beautiful and humble man and and what a way to start the party!