Ferris Bueller comes to mind, as I’m heading to Chicago for next week’s Democratic Convention. Ferris had a line that was dead-on accurate: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”  I get it.

I wasn’t planning on going to this convention. While I’m a Democrat, and I serve in the Rhode Island Senate, I haven’t been deeply involved in state party politics. I’ve never been to a national convention, though, and I figured it would be an interesting experience. So earlier this year, I considered running to be a delegate. Unfortunately, the process involved an election in April. Knowing I might face a primary contest in September, plus the general election in November, I thought three elections in one year might be a bit much. So I chose not to run. Sometime later in the spring, I was chatting with a Senate aide who is more involved in party politics. He mentioned that additional delegates would be selected by the party at the state convention on June 9. That intrigued me a bit. He then pointed out that an effort is made to ensure diversity in the party’s delegation, but the delegates for RI’s 2nd Congressional district already had pretty good diversity. I had to laugh. I reminded him that I bring nothing to the table, other than being Irish-American, when it comes to diversity. I’m “gray, pale & male.” I asked if he was really suggesting that my lack of diversity might not hurt, and I could have a shot at being selected. He told me that was correct. So I filled out the one-page sheet, indicating my interest in being a delegate. I provided it to the state party, then sorta forgot about it. I admit - I wasn’t all that excited about the convention. I do love Chicago. My wife and I have always said - we’ve never had a bad time in Chicago. My Boston College roommate is from the city, so I’ve been visiting there for years. In 1975, when a buddy and I took a cross-country trip, our first major stop was the Windy City.

But otherwise - the convention might be a little dull. Everything was already decided. I’d long been a supporter of President Biden, the nominee. Of course I was concerned, post-debate, but …it looked like a fait accompli. The convention would be relatively unexciting.

So when a colleague approached me on June 10, on the floor of the Senate, and said: “We’re gonna have a good time in Chicago!”, I was actually taken aback. I asked: “What do you mean?”, and she informed me I’d been chosen as a delegate the night before, at the state convention. I had truly had forgotten about the state convention. But I thought: Sure, the convention in Chicago will be grand! Of course, since then, the situation has changed markedly. I was proud to vote recently - in the online virtual roll call - for Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. Along with most of my fellow delegates, I am energized and enthusiastic!

It’ll be an historic time in the Windy City. Ferris Bueller was right. And I’m not going to miss it!

Mark McKenney represents Senate District 30 in Warwick.