Ok, here is my lame-o story of almost sorta-kinda meeting Robin Zander, singer of the legendary rock band Cheap Trick....
We got to the fair around 3:15, as Brian had to work that day. As we walked in, Cheap Trick's bus was right in front of us and it took me about 1/2 a second to notice Robin standing there signing things. I immediately dragged Brian over and got in the mix. I remember Robin telling some girl "nice shirt" as he signed something for her. At one point he looked up, and I - and I wasn't even thinking, it was more of an unconscious reaction - I smiled at him, almost like some kind of an approval to him or something. HE SMILED BACK AT ME! I was sooo jazzed, because I knew it was a reaction to my smile. It was a moment. And I won't ever forget it.
Unfortunately, this was where it peaked for me! As I got up to the front of the group, I was next to talk to him, and HE TURNED AND LEFT! He got back on the bus. I almost cried! I felt like an idiot, but I was so disappointed. So, I thought I had heard him say he'd be back out, so I planted myself there for the next 10 minutes while Brian went to the Center of Progress building to use the bathroom. Just after he returned, Robin stepped off the bus - but turned to his left and signed things for the 3 people standing there! I felt cursed! Except for the smile, of course...
So we, and a handful of other people, ran around the bus, over to the side where Robin was now standing(right in front of the bus door), and he's signing people's junk, and all I wanted was a picture with him. He then stops signing things and starts digging around in his jeans pocket for something. He's digging and digging - and he says something like,
"I'm trying to find my bus key."
I was about a foot from him when he brings up this massive wad of pennies, nickels, and dimes from his pocket and just stares at it and paws through it. For some reason I found this profoundly weird. I mean, we KNOW they are normal people, but it was a little surreal watching Robin Zander dig through change, ya know?! LOL. SO, he finds what he's looking for, jumps back in the bus a second, and comes right back out, slamming the bus door open against the metal railing keeping people back. Guess who was right behind the bus door, having her face about 3 inches from a door smashed open by Robin Zander? ME. If I didn't know better I'd swear he hated me or something. But, he's never laid eyes on me before that day, though! :o)
So, he's signing more junk for people. He kept looking toward me, but then going to other people. I felt like a leper! So, Brian had the camera, and I had yelled at him for not just taking a pic of Robin when he was so close before, so Brian took things into his own hands. Robin was kind of near me - about 2-3 feet from me, and Brian yells out
"KELLY!"
to get me to look at him. I did NOT know what was going on, so I looked at Bri (who mouthed "picture"), I laughed, rolled my eyes, and started to look back toward Robin. AND BRIAN SNAPPED THE PICTURE. I found out later that Robin WAS looking our way, so Brian just decided to take it while he could.
So, I hung around a minute more trying to get a good picture. Robin looked right at me and I said "I just wanted a picture" meaning it as a request, but he turned away from me. After thinking about it, I guess he figured I meant I didn't want anything more from him since Brian already got the picture. At the time I was confused and hurt, you know? It just happened so fast it was hard to think! After that, around 3:40, Robin says to everyone,
"I have to go. I have to get ready to sing"
(which was actually kind of a funny way to say it, you had to hear it - I don't know if he thinks we're idiots or what LOL - but I love him anyway, whatever he was thinking!) and he turned and left. So, I never got a decent picture or even a moment to say anything to him. :( After I got over it, I decided I am just glad to have been so close to one of my biggest idols. It was progress!
So, without further ado, here's is my profoundly silly picture NEAR (not WITH!) ROBIN ZANDER!
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