--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that standing onstage on January…" description: "\"I think that standing onstage on January 19th, and my father had just defied all expectations and won Iowa, was by far the most surreal moment.\" — Vane..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/vanessa-kerry-30046_expectations_i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january_202768.png" --- # I think that standing onstage on January 19th, and my… ![“I think that standing onstage on January 19th, and my father had just defied all expectations and won Iowa, was by far the most surreal moment.” quote by Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/vanessa-kerry-30046_expectations_i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january_202768.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/vanessa-kerry-30046_expectations_i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january_202768.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/vanessa-kerry-30046_expectations_i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january_202768.png) > “I think that standing onstage on January 19th, and my father had just defied all expectations and won Iowa, was by far the most surreal moment.” [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Standing on stage while his father achieved an unexpected victory created a surreal, unforgettable experience. **In simple terms:** A surprising family triumph felt dream‑like on stage. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected family milestones. Themes family surreal achievement Mood proud reflective Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - political rally - family celebration - personal milestone Key Concepts pride public speaking unexpected success Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay present during unexpected triumphs? - What does this moment mean for your future? A Different Perspective Surreal moments can feel detached from reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defied Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defied-expectations-2113529/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Iowa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iowa/) [January](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/january/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Standing Onstage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-onstage-2113528/) [Surreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surreal/) [Surreal Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surreal-moment-1503508/) [Surreal moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surreal-moments-181201/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Won Iowa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/won-iowa-1414697/) ## Related quotes > [I think the most surreal moment for me having been a kid who was on unemployment, was on food stamps - I'm not kidding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-richman/i-think-the-most-surreal-moment-for-me-having-been-a-kid-who-was-on/) [Adam Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-richman/) > [It wouldn't do me much good to back somebody that won in Iowa if they can't carry on the campaign elsewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/it-wouldn-t-do-me-much-good-to-back-somebody-that-won-in-iowa-if-they/) [Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/) > [In 1988, as an unknown candidate, totally unknown, I won Iowa, came in second in New Hampshire, won South Dakota. I was ahead in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/in-1988-as-an-unknown-candidate-totally-unknown-i-won-iowa-came-in/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [I won Iowa not because the demographics dictated that I would win Iowa. It was because I spent 87 days going to every small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-won-iowa-not-because-the-demographics-dictated-that-i-would-win/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I settled in with The Uninvited Guests thinking I knew what kind of Edwardian pleasures were in store: the fraught dinner party in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/i-settled-in-with-the-uninvited-guests-thinking-i-knew-what-kind-of/) [Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/) > [ That's exactly how I felt. So getting to suddenly know this young \[princess\] Margaret, who had this extraordinary life - it was sad and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kirby/that-s-exactly-how-i-felt-so-getting-to-suddenly-know-this-young/) [Vanessa Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kirby/) > [I like that particular kind of attention. People don't know what it's like standing up there onstage, when you have a wall of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/i-like-that-particular-kind-of-attention-people-don-t-know-what-it-s/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Onstage, it's all just a heightened and more elaborate version of me. When you're standing onstage, your adrenaline is going, your enthusiasm is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/onstage-it-s-all-just-a-heightened-and-more-elaborate-version-of-me/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [On Broadway, there is a tradition of the star standing still onstage and singing for three-and-a-half minutes. You can't do that in movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/on-broadway-there-is-a-tradition-of-the-star-standing-still-onstage/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [People don't know what it's like standing up there onstage, when you have a wall of people smiling at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/people-don-t-know-what-it-s-like-standing-up-there-onstage-when-you/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [It's funny how concert dreams are such a recurring thing among musicians. It's like how everyone has that dream of their teeth falling out?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/it-s-funny-how-concert-dreams-are-such-a-recurring-thing-among/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [I have these surreal moments where I’m like ‘I’m pregnant with Jake Gyllenhaal’s baby’ and ‘I’m telling Robert Pattinson that he smells of sex.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-gadon/i-have-these-surreal-moments-where-i-m-like-i-m-pregnant-with-jake/) [Sarah Gadon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-gadon/) > [“The most depressing moments in life is when we realize it’s too late, and the most surreal moments in life is when we get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumbirai-dhliwayo/the-most-depressing-moments-in-life-is-when-we-realize-it-s-too-late/) [Kumbirai Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumbirai-dhliwayo/) > [It's been some surreal moments, you know from performing at Buckingham Palace to having dinner with Stevie Wonder, it's been an amazing ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/it-s-been-some-surreal-moments-you-know-from-performing-at-buckingham/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [The good thing about Pittsburgh, it's a good place to be raised... it doesn't tolerate assholes. You're either a good guy or you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/the-good-thing-about-pittsburgh-it-s-a-good-place-to-be-raised-it/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) ## More by Vanessa Kerry > [But one of the things I learned is that when you fight for something you believe in and you tell the truth and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/but-one-of-the-things-i-learned-is-that-when-you-fight-for-something/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [I just learned not to take a single thing for granted, and I think it just is extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-just-learned-not-to-take-a-single-thing-for-granted-and-i-think-it/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [You're blinded by lights and you see all these people who come out, and it's exciting. It's scary and it's exciting all rolled into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/you-re-blinded-by-lights-and-you-see-all-these-people-who-come-out/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [We don't necessarily always agree, but hopefully we make each other think, and that's what matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/we-don-t-necessarily-always-agree-but-hopefully-we-make-each-other/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [I, for one, am actually still incredibly idealistic, and I still can credibly or very strongly believe that you have to keep fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-for-one-am-actually-still-incredibly-idealistic-and-i-still-can/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [I think my dad is this great, wonderful... man with a lot of integrity, who is fighting for things he believes in and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-think-my-dad-is-this-great-wonderful-man-with-a-lot-of-integrity/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [And I think we created something incredible as a Democratic group, as a platform, as an effort to make a change in the country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/and-i-think-we-created-something-incredible-as-a-democratic-group-as/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [We don't want to be treated any differently, and we want to continue with our lives and our careers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/we-don-t-want-to-be-treated-any-differently-and-we-want-to-continue/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [The dinner table is a lively debate, and everybody weighs in in a different way. I like that, though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/the-dinner-table-is-a-lively-debate-and-everybody-weighs-in-in-a/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [It wasnt until two or three years ago that I actually learned that in the end he actually did kill someone. But that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/it-wasnt-until-two-or-three-years-ago-that-i-actually-learned-that-in/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [There has to be room for people to make mistakes and lead their own lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/there-has-to-be-room-for-people-to-make-mistakes-and-lead-their-own/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [I have the rare privilege of talking to my dad every night at 10 p.m. and hearing about what he did that day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-have-the-rare-privilege-of-talking-to-my-dad-every-night-at-10-p-m/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [I was very close to my mother, and her death, which left a gaping hole in my life, has been very difficult for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-was-very-close-to-my-mother-and-her-death-which-left-a-gaping-hole/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [It was definitely a part of our life. I mean, my mom had both her brothers and her fiancee in Vietnam at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/it-was-definitely-a-part-of-our-life-i-mean-my-mom-had-both-her/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) > [My father loves his country and is ready to lead it. In my fathers gut: integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/my-father-loves-his-country-and-is-ready-to-lead-it-in-my-fathers-gut/) [Vanessa Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) [Explore all 17 Vanessa Kerry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/) ## More Expectations quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I say this all the time: I've always been really good at managing my expectations so that I'm not let down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/i-say-this-all-the-time-i-ve-always-been-really-good-at-managing-my/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Keeping up with everybody's expectation is soooo hard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi/keeping-up-with-everybody-s-expectation-is-soooo-hard/) [Naomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We're wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it actually is. And when we realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/we-re-wired-to-expect-the-world-to-be-brighter-and-more-meaningful/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [“Does your reality match your expectations? If not it's time to change either your expectations or your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/does-your-reality-match-your-expectations-if-not-it-s-time-to-change/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Jesus' kingdom was not like the popular expectation. He used the phrase 'kingdom of God' with a different meaning. His kingdom was not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/jesus-kingdom-was-not-like-the-popular-expectation-he-used-the-phrase/) [Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [It's a good place when all you have is hope and not expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-boyle/it-s-a-good-place-when-all-you-have-is-hope-and-not-expectations/) [Danny Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-boyle/) > [When we give from a place of love, rather than from a place of expectation, more usually comes back to us than we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/when-we-give-from-a-place-of-love-rather-than-from-a-place-of/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Everybody out there watches the show and has expectations of wanting to be an 'Idol', but we're going to teach them how much hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bice/everybody-out-there-watches-the-show-and-has-expectations-of-wanting/) [Bo Bice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bice/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) [Browse all 4,210 Expectations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that standing onstage on January 19th, and my father had just defied all expectations and won Iowa, was by far the most surreal moment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vanessa Kerry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january-19th-and-my-father-had-just/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Expectations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january-19th-and-my-father-had-just/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/vanessa-kerry-30046_expectations_i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january_202768.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/vanessa-kerry-30046_expectations_i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january_202768.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/vanessa-kerry-30046_expectations_i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january_202768.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that standing onstage on January 19th, and my father had just defied all expectations and won Iowa…” — Vanessa Kerry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Vanessa Kerry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-kerry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that standing onstage on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january-19th-and-my-father-had-just/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-kerry/i-think-that-standing-onstage-on-january-19th-and-my-father-had-just/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```