NASHVILLE, Tenn. - One local woman got a chance to ride in style to the President's speech in Madison.
The president himself picked up Kelly Bryant at her home.
The presidential motorcade drove up her street and stopped at her house. The two shared an umbrella and chatted while walking to the car, and during the short trip to Taylor Stratton Elementary School.
"He was just a regular guy," said Kelly Bryant. "We chatted about coffee versus tea, and we talked about the Predators. He was just a regular guy."
Bryant said she learned about an hour before the event that President Obama would pick her up at her home.
Later, Bryant introduced the president at Stratton Elementary. She said, "I am living proof of a president who listens, and cares about the American people."
Bryant said when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, she signed up for healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act. After receiving what she described as "high quality coverage," she decided to write President Obama to thank him.
"I guess being Southern, we were taught to write thank you notes," said Bryant. "I benefitted from the healthcare law. I thought I would write a quick thank you. The President was getting bad press about it, and I wanted to encourage him to keep going. I never thought I would get a response like this, no way."
During President Obama's speech he also mentioned Bryant while addressing the crowd.
“In addition to being a wonderful, and somewhat feisty spirit, as I have learned, she also has the distinction of possibly being the first person ever to be picked up at her house by a presidential motorcade, which I thought was pretty cool,” the president said. “It turned out it was so close to the school. We said, ‘Well, we might as well swing by and get her.’”
Bryant said she had surgery about 9 weeks ago, and is still doing some treatment, but is feeling good and is back at work.
