Jonathan Meyer.

As many longtime readers of this column may be aware, my life changes on a day-to-day basis. Last Thursday I had an experience that I don’t believe anyone else may have ever had before. The combination of privilege, journalistic integrity, and some good old-fashioned team bonding.

I started my Thursday morning with the time honored tradition of sleeping past 7am. After waking up at 5 AM, all summer, sleeping later is a joy to me (even if I was a little bit behind the eight ball).

I was tasked with covering Chuck Grassley’s stop in Toledo, which you can read about on our front page this week. I had to drive from Waverley back to Toledo, the 75 minute drive has never bothered me when I know it’s for a good cause. In order to save a little time, I decided to bite the bullet and drove on K Ave from Traer back into Toledo. Let’s just say my 03 Ford Taurus doesn’t take shaky gravel roads the best anymore but duty calls and by God someone has to report the news.

I must’ve timed it pretty well because as I pulled into the parking lot so was a small motorcade with what I only assume was Secret Service detail. I can understand when our senior senator is third in line to the presidency!

You can read about how the meeting went, I’ll skip towards later in the day.

I enjoyed a delicious El Cerrito lunch before hanging out with the one and only Michael D. Davis in our office. With private conversations ranging from art to college adventures and current police happenings, we keep things pretty tight at the TTNC World Headquarters.

When I got back to Waverly, it was time for maybe my favorite event of the cross country season–4 Queen Halloween. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to try 4 Queen’s ice cream, you have great taste! This event mixes an early August “Halloween” adventure with ice cream. Our whole team marches down the busiest road in town in our Halloween costumes and indulges in sweet treats.

While that might confuse you, well…that’s the point. It doesn’t make sense and it’s for fun.

Everyday I wake up and think about how crazy my life has been to this point. I get to stand in the same room as senators and secret service agents, and still hang out with my teammates doing the most random things imaginable.

Until I have a normal life, I’m just Jonathan.