Who are you again?

By Joseph Williams, Globe Staff

DENVER -- To venture onto the floor of the Democratic National Convention's opening session was a little like diving into Times Square on New Years' Eve -- only without the elbow room.

The crush of political humanity, is largely anonymous, but -- like Times Square, the crossroads of the world -- famous faces can show up when you least expect it.

Filmmaker Spike Lee pushed toward the podium just before Senator Edward M. Kennedy's speech, but was mobbed and stopped in his tracks. Bill Richardson, New Mexico's governor and former Democratic presidential candidate, glad-handed his way around the perimeter with a security escort.

Just before Kenney appeared, Walter Mondale, Jimmy Carter's vice president, tried to get to his seat in the Minnesota delegation, but coudn't cut through the congested aisle. Spotting an opening, he moved to cut through a photographer's bullpen near the stage when an earnest young woman guarding the entrance politely but firmly stopped him.

"Are you a part of a delegation, sir?" she asked.

Mondale was speechless. A long, awkward moment passed.

Then, someone from the Illinois delegation a few feet away spoke up: "You might want to let him through. He's the former vice president of the United States."

The guard turned bright red. "Omigosh!" she said, and waved Mondale through.

"OK -- now I'm really embarassed," she said, putting her hand to her mouth.

When an Illinois delegate gently teased her that she stopped the Democrats' 1984 presidential nominee, the young woman did some quick math in her head: "I know -- I'm embarassed, but when he was nominated I was four years old!"