
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.

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 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.

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