I got into Atlanta Friday night ‘round 5pm
with two other people. I
was soooo stressed out from all of it by the time
we got to the Sheraton to register ... and I’d
been starting to come down with a late summer cold/flu/evil
thing from Hades, and the added stress was not helping.
So I come down so
sick late Friday, that I was a mess, and down for
the count on Saturday.
Sunday morning saw
me much improved, but still just a tad peek-ed.
However, I wasn’t about to waste my last (and
only) day at the con. Beside’s, I’d
made a promise to a co-worker/friend that, come
h*ll or high water, I’d get her an autograph
of Tom Felton {for those of you that don’t
know, he portrays Malfoy from all the Harry
Potter films}. That, and through all the sicky,
icky cold/flu/evil things befuddling my brain, I
remembered that Doug would be there too!
Now, I confess ...
I’d been in love with the man since his day
as Billy in ‘Hocus Pocus’;
and I’d absolutely adored him in HB’s
I & II. But I never realized just how much I
did until I was standing in line to await meeting
him ... ! I would watch how he interacted with everyone
who spoke with him...how he would embrace them,
how he would touch them, like they were the oldest
and best-est of friends. I started hyperventilating,
just thinking of him showing me the same treatment!!
I have never, ever
been such a Total-Geek FanBoy over any other celeb.
And while the wait was well worth it, it became
sheer torture with each passing minute. There were
people both in front of me and behind me whom, in
trying to help calm me, kept telling me how great
he was; of how he would make me feel totally and
completely loved and accepted. Which, of course,
had exactly the opposite affect on me!
So then, finally,
there I am at the corner of the table where the
guy helping him (Zeus! I know I’ve seen his
name mentioned here, but cannot recall it!) took
my $$ for the autograph. So, I’m just standing
there, willingly waiting my turn, when You-Know-Who
comes walking ‘round the table, and right
at me! I just kind of stood there, gaping in awe,
when he stops short, looks at me, gives me the biggest
smile ever, greets me, and just pulls me into this
incredible hug. We talked for like, two-three seconds,
then he asks me to excuse him while he goes to take
a photo with the people before me.
Finally! It was
my turn! Once again, Mr. Wonderful J. comes ‘round
the table to greet me! I was still in a bit of a
fog from the first hug he gave me. He stops a foot
away from me, looks me up & down, and says to
me, “My Goodness, but you are a tiny thing,
aren’t you? You’re so Precious! I could
put you in my pocket and I could just pat your head
all day!” I replied, “Well, I’d
have to poke my head out every once in a while to
breathe!” He was like, “No, you’d
have to stay down in there!”
We both laughed
so hard!
Then he just pulled
me into that wonderful, all enveloping hug he gives
... (sigh) and just held me there for a couple of
seconds. He then pulled back just a bit, looked
me in the eye, and said,
“Have you
been a good girl?”
I said, “Yes
...”
He said, “Are
you going to keep being a good girl?”
“Yes ...”
“Promise?”
“I promise!”
“There’s
Love here, isn’t there?”
“Absolutely!!”
Finally, he went
back behind the table to write his autograph in
my book. When he was done, and we were saying our
farewell’s, he stood up and, leaning over
the table, gave me a kiss on the cheek, allowing
me to return the same!!! I thought I was gonna die!!
EEK!
All in all, it was
the highlight of the con for me ... I will never,
ever forget that meeting, not ever.
