Post by mrsbutler on Oct 24, 2010 0:22:10 GMT -5
Here's the story I wrote up after the LAC premiere. It took place over three days. This was the first time I realized he knew who I was. It's from October 10, 2009. Enjoy:
Day 1 – The Premiere
We (my friend and I) arrived at Hollywood Blvd. at 9:30 am and there were already a few fans there. So we waited until Gerry arrived at around 7:00 pm. I won’t bore you with the details of the day, but we had a great time, met a newbie and bonded with the Tarts. They are a wonderful group of ladies.
F. Gary Grey came across first, and I got the chance to shake his hand and congratulate him. He thanked me for my support. That was so nice.
OK, so Gerry arrives, interviews with a radio station and then makes his way across the street to us. My friend Kris talked to him first and then he made his way down. His publicist, Joy, saw me and gave me a huge smile and greeting. When Gerry was signing my friend’s picture I called to him. He looked up and yelled out “HEY!” to me. I thought “wow, he remembers me!” I asked for a picture with him, and he said yes. He walked over to me, and that’s when the little girl’s daddy lifted her up and into his path. I thought how sweet that was and you can tell by the picture that Gerry thought so, too. So he came over to me, leaned down and was about to say something when Joy pulled him away saying that Danielle (his LA assistant) needed to tell him something. He stepped away from me a foot or two and talked to Danielle. When he came back, he missed me and went to the lady next to me. I said, “Don’t forget about my picture.” He leaned down and SMASHED into my face. His scruff is soft … then he moved on. I try to not take up his time on the premiere line as there are sooo many fans who want a piece of him so I let him alone. However, I brought him a gift and forgot to give it to him. I tried to get his attention, but he didn’t hear me. But Joy did! She came over and offered to give it to him for me, so she took it.
After he was gone a bit, we were offered free tickets to get in and fill in the seats in the theater and see LAC (seven of us got in). We left our chairs outside on the Boulevard and ran inside with the security guy. We were seated way down in the front. Gerry came inside after we did and sat with his people. We got his attention and all turned around to see him. Gerry stood up and waved and blew a kiss. We squealed and then got ready to watch the movie.
The move was INCREDIBLE. I will not say anything other than run to see it on the 16th!
Afterward, we walked up the middle aisle where we saw Gerry holding court a bit. He took a pic with Jamie Foxx and the little girl who played Jamie’s daughter. Here’s where I got brave.
The ushers were trying to get the fans out of the aisle, but then Alan saw me and greeted me with a huge smile and “Hey! How are you?” I went over to him and told him congratulations and how happy I was that he got to produce the movie. He hugged me tight and thanked me. So, the ushers left me alone and I took the chance to go talk to Gerry. I walked behind the usher and stood next to Gerry and waited for him to finish talking. His handler, some young girl, tried to take him away, but I got to talk to him.
He saw me and smiled. I told him how wonderful the movie was, and how wonderful he was. He thanked me, and his eyes were almost slits and he was beaming. The man was beyond happy, and seemed to be getting a high off the energy of the room. It was incredible to see. I was above him on the aisle so finally I was his height! LOL Anyway, I lifted my left arm to hug him and I went in to kiss his cheek. He turned his head, the Bastid, and got me on the corner of my mouth. I had his chapstick on my mouth for an hour!!! Ok, then he started to walk away and I said, “Gerry, this is your crowning glory.” He turned back and said, “Thank you, Darlin’.” I thought I would die. I think I actually stood still for a few seconds in shock before I moved again. I then said I wanted to go because I didn’t want him to see me again. Besides, there were a lot of fans waiting for him at the top of the aisle asking for autographs and pics. I wanted to make sure he didn’t see me again.
Oh, we got outside and my friend’s blue chair was gone, but my pink one was still there!
Day 2 – Ferguson
Less exciting … we stood in line from about 1:00 and got inside around 5:30. We sat on the far right. This time Gerry didn’t see me from the stage so I was able to enjoy the interview without worrying too much about my reactions. LOL I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. When Gerry saw some of the fans, he lifted his head and laughed. It was a “here are my girls” reaction. They didn’t show Gerry’s final bit … They had Gerry read an excerpt from Craig’s book and Gerry did it in Craig’s voice. It was HILARIOUS. I hope they air it soon.
I have never laughed as hard as I did at Ferguson. He is the funniest!!!
We had dinner at Shin. Simon is a wonderful, wonderful guy .... I am blessed to call him my friend. He showed TR2 for us!!!
Day 3 – Leno
More excitement! We got in line about 9:30am. We had regular tickets. Nothing special. We were the third group in line. When we got inside we were escorted to our seats – ON THE FLOOR, THIRD ROW, and RIGHT IN FRONT OF GERRY!!! I couldn’t believe our luck!! So Gerry comes out and did the same face he did at Ferguson when he saw the ladies from the day before. It was really cute.
So he sad down and started talking. He didn’t see me until he was telling the India story, and then he kept looking over at me telling the story, like he needed that connection with someone who cared. (I just watched it on my DVR and noticed how much he kept looking over –sometimes out of the corner of his eye). We were the only fans (from the boards) that were in our section in front of him. There were plenty of women behind me hooting at him and laughing at his story. So then he does his thing, and when the segment was over he waved to the whole crowd and then looked at me, smiled and waved. I asked my friend, “did he see me?” cause I needed to make sure it wasn’t just me. She said, “Oh, yes he did!” SIGH.
After Gerry went outside, during the break, Alan was in the studio between our section and another talking to some girls he knew. He turned around (not sure why) and saw me and smiled really big and waved at me again.
I have no idea how or why Gerry’s people know who I am, but they do. All I have ever wanted was to be the fan that Gerry could be proud to have, and I have accomplished that. I am happier with this trip than any other.
I’m sure I’ve left things out … and if it seems like I’ve thought Gerry gave me more attention than in reality, I asked the people I was with making sure it wasn’t my imagination or wishful thinking. There are other fans he also “connects” with at other events who have told me about this. I am so blessed that this time around, it was my chance.
Day 1 – The Premiere
We (my friend and I) arrived at Hollywood Blvd. at 9:30 am and there were already a few fans there. So we waited until Gerry arrived at around 7:00 pm. I won’t bore you with the details of the day, but we had a great time, met a newbie and bonded with the Tarts. They are a wonderful group of ladies.
F. Gary Grey came across first, and I got the chance to shake his hand and congratulate him. He thanked me for my support. That was so nice.
OK, so Gerry arrives, interviews with a radio station and then makes his way across the street to us. My friend Kris talked to him first and then he made his way down. His publicist, Joy, saw me and gave me a huge smile and greeting. When Gerry was signing my friend’s picture I called to him. He looked up and yelled out “HEY!” to me. I thought “wow, he remembers me!” I asked for a picture with him, and he said yes. He walked over to me, and that’s when the little girl’s daddy lifted her up and into his path. I thought how sweet that was and you can tell by the picture that Gerry thought so, too. So he came over to me, leaned down and was about to say something when Joy pulled him away saying that Danielle (his LA assistant) needed to tell him something. He stepped away from me a foot or two and talked to Danielle. When he came back, he missed me and went to the lady next to me. I said, “Don’t forget about my picture.” He leaned down and SMASHED into my face. His scruff is soft … then he moved on. I try to not take up his time on the premiere line as there are sooo many fans who want a piece of him so I let him alone. However, I brought him a gift and forgot to give it to him. I tried to get his attention, but he didn’t hear me. But Joy did! She came over and offered to give it to him for me, so she took it.
After he was gone a bit, we were offered free tickets to get in and fill in the seats in the theater and see LAC (seven of us got in). We left our chairs outside on the Boulevard and ran inside with the security guy. We were seated way down in the front. Gerry came inside after we did and sat with his people. We got his attention and all turned around to see him. Gerry stood up and waved and blew a kiss. We squealed and then got ready to watch the movie.
The move was INCREDIBLE. I will not say anything other than run to see it on the 16th!
Afterward, we walked up the middle aisle where we saw Gerry holding court a bit. He took a pic with Jamie Foxx and the little girl who played Jamie’s daughter. Here’s where I got brave.
The ushers were trying to get the fans out of the aisle, but then Alan saw me and greeted me with a huge smile and “Hey! How are you?” I went over to him and told him congratulations and how happy I was that he got to produce the movie. He hugged me tight and thanked me. So, the ushers left me alone and I took the chance to go talk to Gerry. I walked behind the usher and stood next to Gerry and waited for him to finish talking. His handler, some young girl, tried to take him away, but I got to talk to him.He saw me and smiled. I told him how wonderful the movie was, and how wonderful he was. He thanked me, and his eyes were almost slits and he was beaming. The man was beyond happy, and seemed to be getting a high off the energy of the room. It was incredible to see. I was above him on the aisle so finally I was his height! LOL Anyway, I lifted my left arm to hug him and I went in to kiss his cheek. He turned his head, the Bastid, and got me on the corner of my mouth. I had his chapstick on my mouth for an hour!!! Ok, then he started to walk away and I said, “Gerry, this is your crowning glory.” He turned back and said, “Thank you, Darlin’.” I thought I would die. I think I actually stood still for a few seconds in shock before I moved again. I then said I wanted to go because I didn’t want him to see me again. Besides, there were a lot of fans waiting for him at the top of the aisle asking for autographs and pics. I wanted to make sure he didn’t see me again.
Oh, we got outside and my friend’s blue chair was gone, but my pink one was still there!
Day 2 – Ferguson
Less exciting … we stood in line from about 1:00 and got inside around 5:30. We sat on the far right. This time Gerry didn’t see me from the stage so I was able to enjoy the interview without worrying too much about my reactions. LOL I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. When Gerry saw some of the fans, he lifted his head and laughed. It was a “here are my girls” reaction. They didn’t show Gerry’s final bit … They had Gerry read an excerpt from Craig’s book and Gerry did it in Craig’s voice. It was HILARIOUS. I hope they air it soon.
I have never laughed as hard as I did at Ferguson. He is the funniest!!!
We had dinner at Shin. Simon is a wonderful, wonderful guy .... I am blessed to call him my friend. He showed TR2 for us!!!
Day 3 – Leno
More excitement! We got in line about 9:30am. We had regular tickets. Nothing special. We were the third group in line. When we got inside we were escorted to our seats – ON THE FLOOR, THIRD ROW, and RIGHT IN FRONT OF GERRY!!! I couldn’t believe our luck!! So Gerry comes out and did the same face he did at Ferguson when he saw the ladies from the day before. It was really cute.
So he sad down and started talking. He didn’t see me until he was telling the India story, and then he kept looking over at me telling the story, like he needed that connection with someone who cared. (I just watched it on my DVR and noticed how much he kept looking over –sometimes out of the corner of his eye). We were the only fans (from the boards) that were in our section in front of him. There were plenty of women behind me hooting at him and laughing at his story. So then he does his thing, and when the segment was over he waved to the whole crowd and then looked at me, smiled and waved. I asked my friend, “did he see me?” cause I needed to make sure it wasn’t just me. She said, “Oh, yes he did!” SIGH.
After Gerry went outside, during the break, Alan was in the studio between our section and another talking to some girls he knew. He turned around (not sure why) and saw me and smiled really big and waved at me again.
I have no idea how or why Gerry’s people know who I am, but they do. All I have ever wanted was to be the fan that Gerry could be proud to have, and I have accomplished that. I am happier with this trip than any other.
I’m sure I’ve left things out … and if it seems like I’ve thought Gerry gave me more attention than in reality, I asked the people I was with making sure it wasn’t my imagination or wishful thinking. There are other fans he also “connects” with at other events who have told me about this. I am so blessed that this time around, it was my chance.
