Remembering my time behind-the-scenes with first lady Barbara Bush

Politicians are upon us.Political big mouths — nailed shut most years — now open wider than the Grand Canyon.

I have covered elections that predate Millard Fillmore.Itchy to get their black-dyed heads on another black-dyed head’s TV program they’d even resurrect and re-elect Calvin Coolidge.See a paper plate of warm tuna fish schmeared with mayo and you know right away it’s a political event.

Difference being the Dems’ accompanying bread slice might’ve been used previously for Ulysses Grant.Baked maybe when the Dutch celebrated buying our island for less than a slice of Junior’s cheesecake.I remember George Bush and Barbara had a king-size bed.

Needful because she always wore a heavy triple-strand pearl necklace.Can get in the way.

She even wore it when I visited the suite named for her at the Grand Hotel’s Mackinac Island, Michigan.Plus her prescient words: “When you’re out, you’re OUT! Everybody should stop whining.

Life doesn’t end after a job does.”I spent lots of time with Barbara.The late superdesigner Arnold Scaasi dressed and taught her — as did I — about makeup.

Didn’t help.At the Marriott she requested a hairdresser.

None came so she shampooed herself.Many seasons ago a presidential shindig was in Philadelphia.The City of Brotherly Love.

I was in a good hotel.My husband had just had made for my birthday a chunky crystal bracelet with two hearts embedded — one for him, one for me — in diamonds.

It was a big wide slip-on.My job was to shake hands, hug, pat on the back and carry a notebook so I thought it smart — safer — since this could slip off — to leave it in the hotel.

I was thrilled with my bracelet.No safe in the room.Safes were downstairs near the check-in desk.

I took my bracelet down, since there was no way with its design to connect both ends and so could be slipped or wrenched off.I signed for it, put it in the safe and went to work.

That was years ago and all I know today is that somebody e...