Holiday season is party season. We love them and we dread them at the same time. It's wonderful to share in the Christmas spirit with family, friends and co-workers, get dressed up and eat to our heart's content. But then there are those boring parties we feel obliged to attend because it's a commitment -- unless, of course, the invitation comes directly from the White House.

When I got the e-mail informing me that I was invited to the White House media Christmas party, I was excited and skeptical at the same time. I didn't have the actual invitation. After covering the party-crashers saga, I was not about to go through the very embarrassing and humiliating experience of having to prove I was a real guest.

My contact assured me that I was on the guest list and that when he saw me in person, he would hand-deliver the invitation. I was a little more relieved when I got the e-mail from the White House Press Office asking for the dates of birth and Social Security numbers of my guest and myself. I saved the e-mails and printed them to take with me just in case.

The next dilemma was who to take as a guest. As a single mom, my first instinct was to take my daughters, but only one could go, so I went for seniority. Needless to say, my youngest daughter was not too thrilled with that choice, so now I owe her, big-time.

For my 15-year-old, it was an opportunity of a lifetime. Being obsessed with American history, the thought of going into the White House was exhilarating. We arrived a few minutes after the doors had opened, and there already was a long line. Once we reached the checkpoint, we were asked to show our identifications, which were then checked by White House staffers against a list of names.

It became evident that after Tareq and Michaele Salahi were able to get into President Barack Obama's first state dinner without having been invited, the White House would not take any chances. Before actually going into the premises, there was a second checkpoint where IDs were again inspected against the list of names.

It did not matter that some of the guests were journalists who spend day after day at the White House briefing room, or household names, people we see every day in the news. Even Andrea Mitchell, Rachel Maddow, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski from MSNBC had to identify themselves, as did political reporter Ed Henry and commentator Roland S. Martin from CNN, and even Bill O'Reilly and Brit Hume from Fox. Yes, that's right -- Bill O'Reilly. This was an inclusive Christmas party; you just needed to be on the list of guests, not necessarily agree with or support the administration's positions.

After being ushered in and greeted by White House military escorts, we were asked to write on small, colorful papers a Christmas wish, which was then put in a huge wooden tree. We were offered a glass of champagne as we listened to Christmas carolers.

The anticipated moment, of course, was when we would be able to see the first couple. Organized to perfection, not a detail overlooked, we were given a small card with the time allotted for the opportunity to greet the president and Mrs. Obama and have our picture taken with them.

As we waited and enjoyed the Christmas spread and holiday sweets, strolling through the history-filled state rooms, I pointed out to my daughter some key political figures and influential journalists who were present. She didn't seem impressed.

When the time came, we stood in line and one by one were greeted by the first couple. I've been to the White House on several occasions, having interviewed every president since Jimmy Carter. I've interviewed Barack Obama four times since the primaries, but for my daughter, this was a moment she had been anxiously awaiting. The president asked her name and age, and welcomed her into the White House, and Mrs. Obama could not have been more charming as she engaged my daughter about life in high school.

It certainly was not just another Christmas party. It's not every day you can be a guest of the president of the United States. My daughter will treasure the memory, and I will save the invitation that was finally given to me as proof that I was a real guest at the White House.

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(Maria Elena Salinas is the author of “I AM MY FATHER'S DAUGHTER: LIVING A LIFE WITHOUT SECRETS.” Reach her at www .mariaesalinas.com)

© 2009 by Maria Elena Salinas

Distributed by King Features Syndicate