I am so proud of Hillary's perseverence in winning in New Hampshire. Not just because I'm celebrating this historic first of a woman winning a U.S. presidential primary. Just last week I celebrated the historic first of an African American man winning a U.S. presidential primary. But to me Hillary's win is more than historic--it's personal. I live in Chappaqua, where the Clintons moved after they left the White House. I've had many occasions to get to know the Senator in and about town, and at a few occasions in New York City as well. It's the Hillary I know that gets me all excited about the first woman who might be president.

The first time I met Hillary personally was on a speaking panel. We were at the Temple Beth El just a few blocks from my house speaking at the Wise Wonderful Women of Westchester annual event. There were 5 of us and Hillary went last. In her speech she graciously made a significant reference to something each of us has said in our speeches. I was flabbergasted that she was listening so carefully, and remembered what we had said. She spoke without notes or script.

In my own speech about working motherhood I had joked that the only thing I managed to do for my husband Bob was join him for a round of golf once a year. At the reception afterward Hillary joked with me that we should go golfing with our husbands sometime, but only once a year. I should have called for that golf date!

A year later I stood in a long line at the Chappaqua library at her book reading and signing for It Takes a Village. I was about to introduce myself when Hillary said, "Oh I know you, Carol. You run Working Mother and we're going to play golf sometime!"  I was amazed.

Hillary has been a wonderful citizen of our community: she has marched in our small town parades, interacted with local students who are way too young to vote, spoken at local fund raisers, and she made deeply moving comments at the memorial service for the son of a local businessman who who lost his life in Afghanistan.

It's exciting to know such an important person. But it's her very neigborliness that makes me wish she could move into every small town for just a week so you could all get to know her.

I'm proud, and I can only imagine what a difference it will make to millions of young girls if they get to grow up with a tough but neighborly role model in the White House.