My Experience With Geri
I've dreamt of going to London since I fell in love with the Spice Girls. Finally, after 11 years, I made it. I left California on Thursday and arrived in London mid day Friday.
Anyone that knows me well knows how much I admire and love Geri Halliwell. Having only met her once before, a month before my 13th birthday, I dreamt of meeting her again. Meeting her in 1999 was an overwhelming experience. I was so young, and so overwhelmed. Due to my emotions I did nothing more than cry and stare. Because of that, I have always wanted a proper meeting with Geri.
This past Saturday, October 25th, I got just that. I had the pleasure of attending two of her book signings in London.
The first signing took place at Borders outside of central London (where I was staying). Since I had to take the underground train everywhere, and wasn't sure how long it would take to travel, I left fairly early. The signing was set for 11:30am and I arrived about 9:15am. I was third in line. Shortly after, several fans from my forum (yes, I post on Spice Girls forum) joined me. I had such a lovely morning interacting with Geri fans from all over the world.
The whole morning I didn't feel nervous. The fact that I would see Geri soon was just not real. But when she arrived my heart started pounding and I started shaking like crazy. Earlier in the morning a Border's employee gave everyone a post-it with their name on it so that Geri could personalize each book. Because of this she greeted me by name when it was my turn.
Geri: Hello Sarah!
Me: Hi Geri! I've come from California to see you.
Geri: Oh my God, you did not!
Me: Yeah, I spent 10 1/2 hours on a plane.
Geri: Oh my God! You're crazy!
While Geri was signing my book, I got up the courage to tell her what I wanted to say, which had to do with a song she wrote for her father (who passed when she was 21).
I said, "Geri, I want to thank you for your song 'Someone's Watching Over Me'. My father passed away earlier this year, and your song has really helped me."
Geri looked up at me with total compassion and sympathy. She placed her hand on my arm and said, "I am so sorry to hear that. I understand what you are going through." And then she hugged me.
I then kindly asked her, "Would you mind standing for our picture?"
She replied, "No not all."
We had our picture taken; I thanked her and began to walk away. As I'm walking I hear Geri call out, "Sarah." I turn around thinking, Holy crap, Geri is calling after me!
I don't remember if I responded, but I turned to face her. She said, "There is a story in the first book that deals with death, you should read it"
"Thank you. I will," I replied.
Never in my life did I think I would have such a wonderful and personal encounter with Geri Halliwell, a woman I've admired and loved for 11 years. In the moment when she gave her condolences about my dad it was no longer fan and celebrity, it was just two people with a connection. I am so thankful for that moment.
The second signing was to take place at 2p on Oxford Street in London at a department store called Selfridges & Co. This signing had also been advertised in the paper. The line was nearly three times as long and my encounter was much briefer. I wasn't sure what to say to her now. Just before it was my turn, I realized I had forgotten which story she told me to read (each book is three stories).
When I walked up she smiled and said hello. I said hello back to her, and then I asked, "Geri, what was the name of the story you told me to read?" She said, "It's called The New Girl and it's in the first book." I thanked her and was on my way.
Yesterday I was thinking about how this whole trip wouldn't have been possible if my father were alive. For some reason, which I only partially understand, my dad never agreed to let me go to London. Not even on a mother-daughter trip. I know if he were here, he wouldn't have agreed to let me go. Also, it was his air miles that bought my plane ticket, and his passing that gave me a beautiful experience with Geri.
At first I was sad and thought "I would trade it all to have him back." But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this was all a gift from him.
Thank you dad.
Anyone that knows me well knows how much I admire and love Geri Halliwell. Having only met her once before, a month before my 13th birthday, I dreamt of meeting her again. Meeting her in 1999 was an overwhelming experience. I was so young, and so overwhelmed. Due to my emotions I did nothing more than cry and stare. Because of that, I have always wanted a proper meeting with Geri.
This past Saturday, October 25th, I got just that. I had the pleasure of attending two of her book signings in London.
The first signing took place at Borders outside of central London (where I was staying). Since I had to take the underground train everywhere, and wasn't sure how long it would take to travel, I left fairly early. The signing was set for 11:30am and I arrived about 9:15am. I was third in line. Shortly after, several fans from my forum (yes, I post on Spice Girls forum) joined me. I had such a lovely morning interacting with Geri fans from all over the world.
The whole morning I didn't feel nervous. The fact that I would see Geri soon was just not real. But when she arrived my heart started pounding and I started shaking like crazy. Earlier in the morning a Border's employee gave everyone a post-it with their name on it so that Geri could personalize each book. Because of this she greeted me by name when it was my turn.
Geri: Hello Sarah!
Me: Hi Geri! I've come from California to see you.
Geri: Oh my God, you did not!
Me: Yeah, I spent 10 1/2 hours on a plane.
Geri: Oh my God! You're crazy!
While Geri was signing my book, I got up the courage to tell her what I wanted to say, which had to do with a song she wrote for her father (who passed when she was 21).
I said, "Geri, I want to thank you for your song 'Someone's Watching Over Me'. My father passed away earlier this year, and your song has really helped me."
Geri looked up at me with total compassion and sympathy. She placed her hand on my arm and said, "I am so sorry to hear that. I understand what you are going through." And then she hugged me.
I then kindly asked her, "Would you mind standing for our picture?"
She replied, "No not all."
We had our picture taken; I thanked her and began to walk away. As I'm walking I hear Geri call out, "Sarah." I turn around thinking, Holy crap, Geri is calling after me!
I don't remember if I responded, but I turned to face her. She said, "There is a story in the first book that deals with death, you should read it"
"Thank you. I will," I replied.
Never in my life did I think I would have such a wonderful and personal encounter with Geri Halliwell, a woman I've admired and loved for 11 years. In the moment when she gave her condolences about my dad it was no longer fan and celebrity, it was just two people with a connection. I am so thankful for that moment.
The second signing was to take place at 2p on Oxford Street in London at a department store called Selfridges & Co. This signing had also been advertised in the paper. The line was nearly three times as long and my encounter was much briefer. I wasn't sure what to say to her now. Just before it was my turn, I realized I had forgotten which story she told me to read (each book is three stories).
When I walked up she smiled and said hello. I said hello back to her, and then I asked, "Geri, what was the name of the story you told me to read?" She said, "It's called The New Girl and it's in the first book." I thanked her and was on my way.
Yesterday I was thinking about how this whole trip wouldn't have been possible if my father were alive. For some reason, which I only partially understand, my dad never agreed to let me go to London. Not even on a mother-daughter trip. I know if he were here, he wouldn't have agreed to let me go. Also, it was his air miles that bought my plane ticket, and his passing that gave me a beautiful experience with Geri.
At first I was sad and thought "I would trade it all to have him back." But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this was all a gift from him.
Thank you dad.