Now this is a real encounter, not a made up story.
On Saturday, March 30, 96, a Custom Car Show was held in my hometown.
I had been watching New York Undercover on tape (previous night's show)
on Thursday before the show, only to catch a glimpse of what I thought was Michael.
I hit the rewind button and there he was. He was coming closer than ever before and probably ever will again. I was ecstatic, overjoyed, anxious and damned near passing out. Mind you this was only almost 3 years ago, so I still was not a teen aged teen idol as they say. Well Saturday came, and I packed my camera, checked my look and off to the show I went.
Now it was in a downtown location and parking is not cheap, but I am. So I rode around
to find a 'free' meter and parked. I grabbed my camera checked the film
(2 rolls in tow, a real 'devotee' doesn't need to ask why 2 rolls) and off to the show I went.
I paid my $9 admission, entered the Convention, and saw the 'Meet Eddie Torres'
sign from afar. (See
Here for actual photos from show.)
I take my camera out to test it because I think I see him on the stage. A nightmare instantly struck, the battery was dead and I was about to die with it. So I went to ask could I get
back in if I left and they said yep, whew I thought. They stamped my hand and racing off out of the door I went. Now downtown 'tourist attractions' are not the place to purchase ANYTHING if you live there, but these were desperate situations. So I went to nearest thing
I saw, CVS, and ended up spending $3-4 more than I would closer to my home. Of course
I bought it, I had no choice. So, back racing down the street I went to the show and there
he was, handsome as ever in jeans and T-shirt, looking ever sexy as he only could.
I was exhausted and exasperated. But I held up. We waited in a line patiently with a B & W photo in tow to be autographed. (Seen
Here). By the time I was the fourth person to be graced with his smile, I was a nervous wreck. I kept telling myself, he is a person first, an actor, second. Yeah right, you say, but it was the only thing I could do to calm down and not make
a total fool of myself when I got up there. Questions galore arose in my head. What do I ask, what do I say, do I say anything or just be in awe? Well now I am the second person and they hold the line. Some girl has to take a Polaroid shot, blah, blah, blah. (I didn't have $5, since
I packed two rolls of film and a battery purchase to boot, so no Polaroid, AUGHHH.....)
So back to signing away he was. So I was close enough for the side shot and took it, in fear he would look my way from the flash, I stood behind the next person. His entourage member looked instead. I was next, dying inside, I said hello, I am finally glad to meet you. He called me sweetheart (I hear everyone else too, SO WHAT, I felt it was personally to me). I asked who picks the clothes that is worn on the show and are they their own and if not do they get to keep them? He responded by saying they had a clothing co-ordinator and some of them
are their own wardrobe but borrowed clothes are just that, borrowed.
I told him I appreciated his visit to our town (corny I know, but you weren't there, so now),
how much I enjoy the show and wished him good luck in future projects. I tipped
off the stage as not to fall down cause my knees were true noodles at this point.
I thought I had died and been revived. I was in another world. I hung around and took as many photos (15 to be exact) as I could. A country western singer (??) was there and was drawing the crowd. But that was OK, because Michael was free for all of us ladies to see
and talk to if we wanted. He was not very busy as a some points, he was just up there
on the stage with his entourage. No one had gone up to talk, take a picture, anything,
for what seemed like, forever. So I went over off stage and asked him to stand for me
and remove the glasses. He stood as you can see in the picture but the glasses were not removed. He seemed (a statement he made let me know) incensed that someone would want some many pictures of him. And I could understand looking back now, but I was kinda upset then. He was here to see us and we were showing our appreciation by coming.
He should have not been worrying about how many photos were taken.
But now, today after the Princess Diana incident, if the shoe were
on the other foot, I can say I do understand and would probably feel the same way.
But I had my photos and happy as a new born babe I was then and still am today.
And thus a Suite was born and here you are reading about it. I wish him all the success in any endeavors still. And if this story, the photos or anything in this suite is not suitable to you,
Michael, please feel free to contact me, and it can be removed.
The End
The Meeting's URL- http://www.100megsfree3.com/delo/meeting.html
