June 13: Fairytale!
Where do I even begin? We'll start with the tweet!
I'm sitting on my couch with my phone, and I get a message from Twitter! I open it, see that it's from Taylor Swift and it's announcing her 13 hour meet-and-greet! I immediately went to the website and decided that I had to do it. I had to go. I didn't have a for sure chance, but it was worth a shot. I asked a few friends if they could go, and decided to meet my friend Amanda there of whom lives there. I wanted to go to the whole CMA festival, but I knew that I needed to meet Taylor Swift. HAD TO!
Friday, I get up and register for a summer class and fix the fuse in my car that will get my gps to work as well as my horn!
So, I drive late Saturday night to meet her at her house, got 3 hours of sleep, got up, and went to the meet and greet arriving at 6:00. I begin to sing Taylor songs with 2 girls, one with a 12 string guitar and a guy that traveled from Vancouver, Canada! He stayed in a hostel, and flew for 22 hours (layovers included!) There were people throughout the entire day saying they came for 30 hours, 8 hours, some without stopping! I was beyond in awe of how many people were her true fans! I felt like I blended in! So, we're waiting in line and guess who I see?! "that dude" "THAT DUDE!" I screamed it at him! He's the guy that won the A Hug From Taylor Swift challenge! If you haven't heard of him, youtube him...He's awesome! and cute! :) and later he told me that he would've given me a wristband if he had the authority to do so because he knew that I deserved one!
We continued to walk through the line singing every song that she knew! She knew a lot! So, we get in and we wait and search for people to give us wristbands. No luck!
At 8:00, we hear "Hi! I cannot wait to meet you guys! I'm Taylor btw!" She came out of her tourbus and started signing right away. People gathered to take pictures of her outside the meet and greet line. It was all just really exciting but really nervwrecking because I was just hoping I would get my turn at the time! I just want to give props to my friend Amanda for sticking with me this whole time! :) May I remind you, we had 3 hours of sleep, a little bit of breakfast, and we were just running on hope!
Every hour we texted our chance in, but every hour we didn't win! So what did we do?! We would try again!
Everyone around the arena was yelling things like "When we say Taylor, you say Swift!" and "If you love Taylor, Scream!" Having 3 hours of sleep, they weren't my favorite people. Who else wans't my favorite people?! There were so many girls begging for meet and greet passes! I was willing to earn it! Amanda and I even said to a staff guy that we would rap Thug Story for him to win. He gave us full hope of winning and we got really excited! This was around noon, so he told us to come back after the acoustic set! We sit down right in front of the stage, and we wait, and we practice! 2:00 comes around and we just need to wait. Taylor hits the stage around 2:30. I don't blame her. She needed to sit down and have a snack! The girl just didn't stop meeting people! One of the many reasons why I love her!
The acoustic set was just as amazing as any part of the day! She is just so dedicated and told us that all of us coming out to say hi to her is what makes her fearless! She went into the audience, hugged her fans, gave it her all. The girl just makes me smile! I LOVE HER!
I also met all of her band members. I thank Katie for that! for letting me know! We bonded over Taylor and she once bought me coffee at the Starbucks on our campus! Now, if you aren't a huge fan like me, you might not now that her best friends consist of her band members! So, when she vlogs and when she's on the road her best friends are in her vlogs and with her every step! So, I watch them, and they're the people in the videos that make me happy!
Another thing is that they signed the Fearless Platinum album for me. That's great, but what happened was that I had forgotten to put the cd in the case. The cd is in my car, The cd in the case?! HANSON! Everyone commented! They loved it! The entire band are fans! :)
First was Grant! Now, first and foremost, i need to say to you all that I have a crush on this man! He can play guitar, and he's just a badass! He cracks me up on Twitter. He's such a good friend to Taylor. On Halloween, he dressed up as a punk rocker and I asked him if his tattoos were real. When I saw him now, I asked him if he remembered me, and he said that he did, and that he wished he had a tattoo because he didn't have any. Also, I suggested that everyone in the band should get "Fearless" somewhere on the body! He said it would be a good idea to get something! :)
Next was Amos and Mike! Amos is one of the funniest people I have ever seen and met. The videos that Taylor has online crack me up when he's in them! His funny faces to his oneliners! Also, his twitter...I have laughed out loud at some of them! I told him that too! Mike came in and said that he was so funny in real life as well! The man can play the guitar so well!
Ps, isn't het HOT?!
After her acoustic set, Amanda and I rushed up to rap for the people, but only to find out that every wristband had already been distributed for the day and that we should come back at 4:30 to see if they are getting any more! Katie, unfortunately had to leave! :( I said goodbye to her!We went to get food, and went back. The lady said that she didn't know if they were getting any, so what happened was that we never got our wristband! Also, right as soon as we left at 3 (when the acoustic set was over), there were 2 extra wristbands that were available because two people had an extra ones. Well, the lady that wanted us to rap searched the enitre arena for us but for some reason couldn't find us! :( We were so upset about it! So, we popped a squat and didn't leave for a bit.
I finally just looked at Amanda and said that we need to go meet Caitlin and Paul!
So, that's what we did!
First, Paul! He was so cool! I told him how much I loved the concert and how it was the best i've ever seen and I thanked him! :)
Next, wasn't a band member, but I held her freaking guitar! Her DAD was there just putting it on people and letting people strum it, and handing out guitar picks to anyone who asked! :) He got a picture with me and he was so funny! When I strummed it, he said to Amanda, "He's not any good!" I laughed so hard! His autograph was just Taylor's Dad. I also told him how much I admired his daughter and he thanked me!
It's sparkly...just like all of her dresses! :)
Also, I need to point out that in this line is where I met Kelly, Jena, and Alison! I need to take a second to explain these girls to you guys! They were SO SO SO sweet! What killed me is that they didn't get to meet her, because of everyone I saw that day, they were the only ones that remembered that it was her half birthday! They made a sign! Also, they put "I <3 ?" on the back of their hands just like the song "I <3 ?" by Taylor Swift! :) They were just so sweet! After I met them and spent time with Scott Swift, I got a number to keep in touch with them while Amanda went to LP Field for Kellie Pickler and I stuck around!
So, next was Caitlin! Caitlin is one of the cutest girl I have ever seen. I stuck out my hand to shake hers, she gives me a weird look and says, "Oh no! I'm a hugger!" So, we hug and I said hello, and told her that the end of "Should've Said No" during the drum/trashcan battle with Taylor was one of the most entertaining things I've ever seen! She was happy to hear that! She told me about how she once went to eat with her parents and saw some girls doing that and swore that they were reinacting. I don't blame them! It's very therapeutic when I pretend to do it in my bedroom! I told her that, and she agreed! Also, I complimented her on the fiddle playing and how I know that "Tell Me Why" is playing every time I hear her play it! :) She was so spunky I might add btw. On the jumbotron, they were playing the SNL skits and she stopped mid sentence and said that this was her favorite SNL skit! I loved her so much! She ALSO said that we just missed two wristbands and we totally deserved them! Amanda goes up to her, and says that her favorite skit was the best friend skit, and she couldn't do it with Taylor, but wanted to the handshake with Caitlin. So, they did! "Hey is for horses and chicken, and fish! Hit me three times, and I'll grant you your wish!" She was probably my favorite band member..or of least the most fun! :)
After that, we didn't know what to do. I just hung out a little bit, and I saw the three girls again and they reported that no more wristbands were going to be given and that the people with wristbands might not even get to meet her! :(
So, what do I do? I go through the picture line one more time. This time I went to the T Party on more time (pics on facebook), and got more pictures of her, and I got a wave! She waved at me! :D
I say goodbye to Amanda when she goes to LP field, and the 3 girls go grab some food! I sit down and rest, and I really just want to point out that at this point I had every right to give up hope, I was about to, but I didn't! I knew it had to happen! If I was the last person in the arena, it was going to happen! The only way I wasn't going to meet her is if I go home not giving up every single opportunity!
So, for the (maybe) last time I walk through the line to take a last picture of her and I see a security guard mysteriously tell someone in front of me to go over there as he points to her tour bus. I get so puzzled, and follow! It turns out, they were opening the tour bus again. They had it open during the day, but had shut it down. I rush over and get in line. The 3 girls tried to get in line, but it shut down as soon as they got there. :( :( :(
So, I'm waiting and at this point, I am trying to find a place to stay for the night so I'm texting people and asking Amanda. It all worked out in the end, but the woman behind me says while I'm texting.."Hey, do you want a guitar pick?" I looked up and said that I already had one from her dad and screamed, "LIZ!" Liz Huett was right there! I hugged her and she talked with us for about 20 minutes while we waited to go on the bus. She told me all about how she got to be her backup singer. She met her at a meet and greet in California when she only had one song ("Tim McGraw"). Liz told Taylor that she wanted to be a country singer, so she said to move to Nashville. She moved to Nashville two and a half years later, and got an audition in the middle of a work shift. She got a second audition, and then the 6 month job! HOW COOL IS THAT?!
The girl is so pretty! Also she tweeted me! Check it out! Twitter.com/elizabethhuett :)
She also did her perfect girlfriend impression! "You don't think I'm pretty?! Why won't you come to the airport?!" You have to watch the videos!
So, I then get to go on to this tour bus. i just want to point out that i gave my number to a girl named Bailey and she isn't calling and we got separated and she won't reply to my tweet, but she lives in LA and she invited me to a show at the Staples Center...and ELLEN! I hope she gets ahold of me...my phone was dying so I just really hope she calls! I liked her a lot...you'll come to find out! (ps, a few days after this blog was written she contacts me on the Internet)
So, me, Bailey, the bratty daughter and mother (I don't wish to remember them), and some more people got a tour of her bus (pics on facebook). This bus is the most extravegent bus! It is just like a mini apartment...a living room, two bathrooms, 3 beds, a makeup room, a tredmill, a shower. I didn't think it was possible to put everything on there! Btw, the tour was given by her mother! The awards she had won were on there and everything! I was just in awe! I loved every minute of this bus! I get a picture with her mom..
and this is what happens.....
I finally just look at her and say, "can i have a hug?!" We hug, and the following conversation happens
Me: I just wanted to let you know that your daughter's music has helped me get through so much. I know I can't meet her, but will you tell her that?!
(now, if you might have guessed it or if you were wondering, I started crying)
Andrea: (hugs me) You just wait til her NEXT album. It's coming out in the fall! Honey, I'm so sorry you can't meet her today, but next show you go to, you find me, and I'll make sure you get to meet her! okay?!
Me: Okay! (leaves wiping tears)
I was just in total awe after the "moment" I had with her mother! :) She was everything Taylor had made her out to be! ;)
So, I barely get off the bus when I hear, "Miles, wait a second. Just hang out for a second!" I get puzzled, I don't understand what is happening! I then hear....
"Andrea thinks you should get to meet her daughter!"
My heart skips beats. "Oh my god!" comes out of my mouth so many times. Tears fall out of my eyes. I sob on Bailey's shoulder. I just couldn't believe what I was experiencing! HER MOM THINKS I SHOULD MEET HER! Wow, so I go to the back of the line with the security guard, and everyone is looking at me and I just kept apologizing for crying and I was in so much awe of what just happened! I was shaking! So I breathed, and kept it together! Now, the three girls and Amanda weren't with me. So, they stood outside in the picture line, and took pictures and asked me how I did it. I told them. They were jealous and I just wanted to give it to them. I wanted them to come with me, but they didn't because they couldn't. Instead, they took pictures and Kelly even took a video! (also on facebook) So, it's my turn. i get one autograph, so I chose the Rolling Stone. They took everything else! I danced with a staff memeber. And then it happened!
I go up and give her the biggest hug not thinking that this was real at all! I swore it wasn't. I coudn't believe I was meeting someone I admire so much! I knew I couldn't cry or I would ruin everything. After the hug, I told her that her mom sent me and proceed to say how much her music has helped me through so much and how much it means to me. She just said, "Aw thank you so much!" And hugged me while I cried! I have watched the video so many times and want to say that the face that she makes when sh'es hugging me makes me know that I said had touched her! She actually grabbed the magazine while I was going for the hug! I wonder if she has it down to a science! I told her thank you so many times. We hugged five times. I tell her that I can't be crying in the picture and she wipes my tears and says that it doesn't look like I've been crying! She thanked me for coming out and keeping her company! And I was just still in complete awe!
I got approached afterwards and had to sign something that said I could be on tv! ABC is going to have footage of the CMA music festival, and I very well could be featured! WOW!
Pictures were taken of me and the girls. I miss them already, but I'm almost positive that won't be the last time I'll see them!
So, I wait around with Amanda because she's hoping still to get to meet her, and ten minutes later...I SEE TOBY MEETING HER! I freak out! It was perfect timing! Amanda never met her. They started to kick people out! :(
I told Toby I was starving! So was he! So, we went to Taco Bell, I took him back to his hostel, and he thanked me! Toby's such a great guy! He bought my Taco Bell and he told me about his life in Vancouver, and he was there alone! Props to him!
So, then I drove home running solely on adrenaline and music! I had no phone! It was kind of riveting! I went home to awake my very worried mother and tell her the story! :) :) I didn't stop crying until about 6.
June 13th was my complete and utter fairytale!
Thanks for reading!
LOVELOVELOVE
M