Seeing Theodore Gebhard’s piece about Ted Cruz caused me to reflect on Donald Trump’s recent description of Senator Cruz as “nasty” and to recall my one experience with the senator – although it is one he is likely unaware of.

It happened at the Constituting America event in Las Colinas, Irving, Texas, held September 12, 2014.  Senator Cruz was the keynote speaker.

Senator Cruz gave approximately a 45-minute speech with an eloquently stated conservative message.

Afterward, as the crowd thinned, he mingled in the audience, speaking with a number of those in attendance.

As many had already left fifteen minutes or so later, the senator and Reverend Cruz, who was in attendance, began walking together down one side of the room.  They exited through a door to another part of the building.

That’s when I decided to leave.

Walking toward the front of the building with its multiple glass doors, I noticed a woman outside with what were likely her two grandsons.  The grandsons appeared to be 7 to 10 years old.

To describe the setting, there was a fairly large landing area outside the front doors before reaching a flight of stairs with multiple railings that led down to the parking lot.  The grandmother was standing at the top of the steps at the farthest right railing as her grandsons moved around her in constant motion.

To my surprise, it was at this point that Senator Cruz exited the building through a doorway along the right side of the landing and just behind the grandmother.  I was probably 15 to 20 feet away.

Senator Cruz went past the grandmother a step or two and then turned, walking back to her.  She was to the left of the rail, holding on to it with her right hand.  

Too much time has passed for me to recall the exact words, but the gist of their brief conversation was like this.  The senator touched her left elbow and asked if he could assist her.  At first, it appeared she didn’t hear him.  He politely asked again.  This time she looked toward him.  It appeared that for the first time, she realized someone was touching her elbow and responded, no, she was doing fine.  He then said something like "I just wanted to make sure" and continued on his way. 

Frankly, the grandmother may have been all right.  It was difficult to tell if her concern was more negotiating the steps or the location of her grandsons.  The grandsons clearly had her surrounded.  Regardless of the reason, she hesitated at the top of those steps.  The senator noticed and responded.

It all happened rather quickly.  By this time, I was probably within five feet of Senator Cruz as he walked across my path, apparently continuing on his way to the parking lot.

Then I did something the Senator did not do.  I turned around to see if anyone else was watching. 

Not a photo camera, video camera, or journalist was there to be found.  There wasn’t anyone else who attended the event anywhere near, either – not even a security guard.  Just we five – and my guess is Senator Cruz didn’t realize I was there because as he walked off, as one would have expected in this situation, he turned his back toward me.

This story may have occurred at a political event, but it was far from political.  It was simply an attempt by Senator Cruz to be helpful to someone who appeared in need.

 “Nasty”?  If so, Senator Cruz truly has a peculiar way of showing it.