abbey_bartlet's Journal

11:57am: Questions from CJ
1. What is the best part of being the First Lady?
I could say it's the platform I have to advocate healthcare and women's issues, two things I do care about, but sometimes I'm not sure that I'm actually doing that much good there. So let's go with the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life--from heads of state to a woman in a shelter who would rather frame a check from the First Lady than cash it, even if she desperately needs the money.

2. What is the one thing that most people don't know about you?
I considered dropping out of medical school in the second year. Med school is hard work, for long stretches of time, and I had a husband and a small child who came down with more than her fair share of colds and ear infections that year. I thought I might have to leave school, and for a long time, I thought it would be the end of the world if I did. After a while, though, I gave myself permission to leave if things got bad enough...but at the same time, promised myself that I'd go back someday. I think having that exit plan took some of the pressure off, and I stuck it out in the end. I never told anyone I was considering dropping out, but I think Jed knew what I was thinking.

3. What is the best part of being a mother?
Watching my girls turn into strong women who are confident in what they can do and what they want to do. They've all had their battles to fight, but I couldn't be prouder of any of them.

4. What is the most romantic thing someone has ever done for you?
He's tried to tell me that the only reason he ran for President was to get full time bodyguards for me and the girls...I'm not entirely sure I'd call that romantic, but I think that's what he was going for. Seriously, though, my husband is really a big sap, did you know that? Most of the details are best left obscured in history, since he really is almost as good at the romance as he thinks he is and things usually turn out well for him when he tries it.

I do think he ordered a fighter jet flyover for my hometown's Fourth of July celebration one year just to impress me, the jackass.

5. What character from a fairy tale do you wish you could be?
I'm not sure I believe in fairy tales anymore. And it's hard to think of one that doesn't involve a damsel in distress, which was never something I wanted to be. Perhaps a Beauty and the Beast joke would be appropriate?

8:56pm: So I see that my husband and most of his senior staff have started keeping these journals. I think it's a fine idea; I also think they need someone to keep an eye on them, especially my husband and Leo McGarry. Don't give me that look, Jed, you two would run this country into the ground without me and you know it.

I suppose I could give a little introduction here, do a brief rundown of my biography, but that's pretty boring, don't you think? Besides, I'm the first lady of the United States, who doesn't know all that stuff already? Instead, I've asked claudia_jean to interview me. As soon as she gives me questions, I'll post my answers. In the meantime, if anyone else would like to ask me five questions, leave a commment and I'll do my best.