Somerset — Former First Lady Laura Bush was much more than a prominent public figure during the eight years her husband, George W. Bush, served as President of the United States.

She was also a loving wife and mother.

Now that her husband’s presidency is a part of history, Mrs. Bush is able to talk about the emotional rollercoaster she experienced as the wife of the man who led the nation through one of its darkest moments — and she shared some of those thoughts with a small crowd gathered at Somerset Christian School for the inaugural Correll Leadership Conference Friday morning.

Perhaps the most poignant illustration Mrs. Bush made of her struggle to view her childhood sweetheart as both the love of her life and the leader of a nation came when the former First Lady told of her feelings during the opening game of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2001 — less than two months after terrorists had attacked U.S. citizens on their own turf.

George W. Bush, the former First Lady recalled, was about to throw the first pitch to start the World Series games.

“In any other time, this would be the most lighthearted duty for a President,” Mrs. Bush said. “But now, every landmark, every crowd gathered, was a target. And there stood the President of the United States in the infield, all alone in a crowd at a time when an attack could occur at any moment.”

As a wife, Laura Bush feared for her husband’s life.

“But I had to remind myself that this is the job of the President,” she said.

It is also the job of all Americans, though, she told the crowd, to “take a stand ... and make a difference.”

One of the greatest joys she experienced as First Lady was “being able to witness, every now and then, all of America facing up to their fears, shattering change, and standing proud.”

Mrs. Bush shared many other accounts of her family’s life during George W. Bush’s presidency — and during the time following their departure from the White House, a time which she calls “the afterlife.”

The Bushes purchased a home in Texas, where, Mrs. Bush said, she is enjoying “shopping for furniture and setting up the house.”

Both George W. and Laura have been writing their memoirs. Mrs. Bush’s book will be released May 4 — “just in case you want to drop by the bookstore,” she hinted with a sparkle in her eye.

Life is returning “back to normal” for Mr. and Mrs. Bush.

“But we’ve forgotten what normal is,” she said.

The former First Lady spoke of her years in the White House, many of which were tainted by the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001.

She gave her own account of that terrible Tuesday morning. She had been speaking to a senate committee when a Secret Service agent told her that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. She spent the next several hours watching the events unfold on television in an office with Sen. Ted Kennedy.

“(Kennedy) kept up a steady stream of small talk,” she recalled. “I think he was trying to reassure me.”

The Bushes were taken to a secure location on Sept. 11, but they attempted to sleep in the White House that night. They were awakened in the middle of the night by a Secret Service agent, who told them a plane was headed toward the White House. There was actually no reason for alarm. The plane turned out to be “one of ours,” Mrs. Bush recalled. But their lives changed that night.

“On Sept. 12, we woke up to a different life,” she said.

Laura Bush watched as her husband, who was known for his sense of humor and quick wit, went for days with no laughter — and with tears in his eyes.

“Not everyone had the opportunity to see that side of George Bush,” Mrs. Bush said.

Mrs. Bush ended her speech by answering questions which had been collected from her listeners. She told of how she met her husband, reported on the new “normal life” being enjoyed by her dogs, and spoke of the importance of technology in libraries.

The former First Lady also spent several minutes chatting about her famous family members — her father-in-law, George Herbert Walker Bush, who turned 85 last summer; her mother-in-law, Barbara Bush, who is recovering nicely after spending some time in the hospital; her daughter, Jenna, who is a teacher and a contributing correspondent for the Today Show; and her daughter, Barbara, who has founded a non-profit organization.

“Being a parent is the best thing,” she told the crowd.

“My husband and I longed for children, and we were so blessed to get two at once. They were literally an answer to our prayers.”

The always-gracious former First Lady made sure to make time to compliment the Bluegrass, saying she loved being able to visit the state when the dogwoods are in bloom.

“The pink ones are especially beautiful,” she said.

When part-time Somerset resident and U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers introduced Laura Bush to the crowd yesterday, he spoke extremely well of her.

“There is no more gracious host than this lady. For me, there is no First Lady who will ever live up to her standards. She was the best,” Rogers said.

By the time Mrs. Bush had completed her speech, it was likely that everyone in the room agreed with him.