From: Nora O'Connor
Date: 10/17/01
Time: 5:07:12 PM
Remote Name: 208.32.238.2
I had been approved to be on the San Francsico Local Homeless Coordinating Board and the final step was to be sworn in by Mayor Willie Brown at City Hall. In a room packed with people and camaras flashing, Mayor Brown asked the six of us to say our names before being sworn in ... My palms weren't sweaty, my heart wasn't racing, my mind wasn't doing negative talk ... I was in the moment and when it was my turn I looked directly into Mayor Willie Brown's eyes and said NNNNNNNNNora O'Connor. We both maintained comfortable eye contact through my block. After I said my name I felt confidence, as oppose to feeling self loathing about stuttering openly in a political forum. This is a personal speech triumph considering the years of hiding in the shadows and living in pain because of my stutter. nora95@juno.com