Photo Credit to Crystal Dunlop So I found myself standing right in front of the person I had listened to a thousand times. I knew the smile and the voice. Yet somehow seeing him with my own eyes, and his eyes seeing me, the world took on a whole new spin. Gravity affected my head and any ability to speak coherently flew out the window. While listening to and watching his music videos, so many ways to tell this person how wonderful his talent is clearly forms in my mind. Then, when I found myself in this once in a lifetime opportunity to personally express this to him, my mouth filled with cotton balls while my head turned to mush. So, what did I do in this moment where time seemed to have stopped in a Matrix like scene? –
Everything was at a standstill around me as I stood frozen in the midst of this time warped vortex, and I did what ???
Mumble. Yes, I mumbled. Mumbled so low I couldn't even hear the words in my head. I was the first to come on stage and they were still getting things set up. Not wanting to interrupt their conversation, barely a whisper uttered from my lips. Before I regained any sense of awareness, one of the event workers hurried me on my way off stage.
Everything was at a standstill around me as I stood frozen in the midst of this time warped vortex, and I did what ???
Mumble. Yes, I mumbled. Mumbled so low I couldn't even hear the words in my head. I was the first to come on stage and they were still getting things set up. Not wanting to interrupt their conversation, barely a whisper uttered from my lips. Before I regained any sense of awareness, one of the event workers hurried me on my way off stage.
The whole experience lasted just a
few seconds and at that moment it
was sort of a blur. As I looked down
at his signature on the card,
I noticed he also wrote my name!
Maybe I did manage to
say a word or two.
A smile crept across my face
and the day became brighter,
there might even have been birds singing!
Ah...
Now getting to the place of standing in front of my favorite solo performer was not just chance or fate...or was it?
I had already decided to attend KCON 2014 months in advance not even knowing all of the artists who would be performing. Being the largest Hallyu festival in the US, it would be the perfect place to be the premier of our new fansite, To: Hallyu, with Love. As the artists were announced, the anticipation of the event continued to accelerate. But, when the email came that Jung Joon Young would be performing, I'm sure the windows rattled from the squeal that was unleashed. When it was announced that there would be fan engagement events, I knew which one I'd have all my fingers and toes crossed for!
The day of KCON finally arrived and the scratcher cards were in my hand.
SORRY.
SORRY.
SORRY.
My "golden" ticket!!! Then finally a couple of audience cards, but no Jung Joon Young. I put it out of my mind thinking there was nothing I could do about it. There was no need to sulk because there were many other amazing things at KCON, like being in the CNBLUE fan booth (Blossom Petal Productions helped sponsor them). Then, another volunteer mentioned she had a card for the Jung Joon Young signing event and couldn't attend. It took two seconds to shoot up out of my chair and beg to see it. Holding the card in my hand as if it were a delicate porcelain tea cup, I examined it closely and, yes, there they were – the words I had hoped to see on one of my scratchers.
I'm not sure what the look on my face might have revealed. My mind could think of nothing more than the piece of paper I was intently staring at in my hands. Her words finally reached me, but I wasn't sure if I could trust my ears or if it was just wishful thinking.
“Do you want it?” she said.
A blank stare was all I could answer. So she asked again, “Do you?”
There might have been a tear in my eye as I started to smile and nod an emphatic YES, still clutching it, never to let it go again.
Just the right moment, with just the right ticket! Maybe it was fate. She didn't ask for anything in return, but knowing she was a college student, I gladly slipped her something for this opportunity that for me was priceless.
I'm not sure what the look on my face might have revealed. My mind could think of nothing more than the piece of paper I was intently staring at in my hands. Her words finally reached me, but I wasn't sure if I could trust my ears or if it was just wishful thinking.
“Do you want it?” she said.
A blank stare was all I could answer. So she asked again, “Do you?”
There might have been a tear in my eye as I started to smile and nod an emphatic YES, still clutching it, never to let it go again.
Just the right moment, with just the right ticket! Maybe it was fate. She didn't ask for anything in return, but knowing she was a college student, I gladly slipped her something for this opportunity that for me was priceless.
I set all other events aside to be first in the signing line. While braving the heat of the sun, I met veteran signing attendee, Crystal. Being my first ever fan event, she gave me tips on how to get the most out of the opportunity. She said she was going to ask for a hug. (she used this strategy to get a hug from Lee Min Ho a few months earlier... so envious!) She stayed with me as second in line until after his entrance, but when it came time for us to go onstage, she quietly slipped to the end of the line. Sure enough, she got her album signed AND a handshake. (Now, it wasn't the hug she asked for, but still more than anyone else got.) She shared later that you have a chance to not be rushed so much when you are one of the last. She's definitely a pro at this. Making sure I was first in line was not the best strategy, but I'm not disappointed.
I brought a printed article I had written about Joon Young and his song with Younha in hopes that he could sign it. (link to article) It was put on the table for him, but I'm not sure he got to read it. I guess we'll never know.
I brought a printed article I had written about Joon Young and his song with Younha in hopes that he could sign it. (link to article) It was put on the table for him, but I'm not sure he got to read it. I guess we'll never know.
Jung Joon Young was hilarious as he talked with The Korean Englishman, who was hosting the fan event. (But, that's a whole other story coming soon.) If there was anyone in the audience who didn't know who Jung Joon Young was, they definitely know him now. They'd surely be taken by his energetic and totally off-the-wall personality.
Now as I sit at here at my desk and think back to this amazing moment, I can't help but to smile. A place on the wall has been designated for the now framed autograph, where at a glance I can relive the excitement of my first fangirl experience every single day. I think now I'll sit back and hit my You Tube playlist to listen just one more time before I call it a night...
by Melodie Everson
International Journalist and Extreme Hallyu Fan
President of Blossom Petal Productions
Founder of To: Hallyu, with Love
contact: melodie@tohallyuwithlove.com
Now as I sit at here at my desk and think back to this amazing moment, I can't help but to smile. A place on the wall has been designated for the now framed autograph, where at a glance I can relive the excitement of my first fangirl experience every single day. I think now I'll sit back and hit my You Tube playlist to listen just one more time before I call it a night...
by Melodie Everson
International Journalist and Extreme Hallyu Fan
President of Blossom Petal Productions
Founder of To: Hallyu, with Love
contact: melodie@tohallyuwithlove.com
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