I have met a lot of actors, musicians, wrestlers – and politicians in my life. But while I have enjoyed the excitement of meeting them – I have only shared that amazing moment three times in my life with other people over the phone. The first was when I put my ex-girlfriend and now very dear friend Christine on the phone with Nightmare On Elm Street Writer and Director Wes Craven, and again when I also put WWE Superstars The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin – and her favorite – Triple H one the phone with her…

…but nothing compares to the time I put then United States Senator From New York and now Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton on the phone with my mom.

It was the first time now Former President Bush visited Ground Zero to thank the workers and first responders for all they had done. Every dignitary you can imagine was there. From Mayor Giuliani, to Governor Pataki, to Governor McGreevy of New Jersey, to countless Senators, Councilman and Congressmen – they all came out of the woodwork to be there for that historic occasion. One of the dignitaries there was United States Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton – who I had the honor of detailing (or protecting) that day. As we made our way through the crowd of those who had given everything to help remove debris from the attack, restore New York City to some level of normalcy – and find those lost, I took a moment at a time when she was not shaking hands with our heroes to tell her that I was honored that I was detailing her, and to say how thankful I was that she was there doing what she was doing. It was at that moment my phone rang. Having no choice but to look who was calling in case it was my boss – I saw it was my mother.

Ready to immediately shut it off, she asked me who it was while it was still ringing. When I told her it was my mother, she said something I did not expect. “Give me the phone.” Not wanting to say no to a former First Lady and current United States Senator at the time – I immediately complied. She asked me what my mother’s name was and I told her – and then handed her the phone.

With my cell phone at her ear, Senator Clinton – without introducing herself, said, “Hello Rosemary? I just want you to know that I am here with your son Paul, and he is doing a great job for America – and you should be very proud of him.” Not knowing the other side of that conversation until I spoke to my mother later, she asked, with shock in my mother’s voice, “Excuse me – is this Hillary Clinton?” To which the Senator answered, “Yes. Paul is a true hero. I am very proud of him – and I just wanted you to know that.”

It was then that former First Lady, then Senator – and now Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton handed the phone back to me – and all I could hear was my mother saying incoherently though tears of joy how she just spoke to a First Lady on the telephone. It was a very proud moment for me, because my mother has given me so much – and I was honored that then Senator Clinton took time out of her very busy life to speak to the woman that gave me mine. I saw then Senator Clinton twice after that, but never got the opportunity to thank her. But now that she is Secretary of State – I am even more honored that she did what she did – because even though she was not the United States’ highest diplomat at the time – it is now even more of an honor that my mother can say that at one point in her life – she spoke to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Thanks Madam Secretary – you made my mother, and me – honored and appreciated…

…and we will never forget it.