I know. I never talked about it last year or this year. Not much to tell, but I have reasons for not having much to tell. Not too much happened there.
OK. So this is held in a living history place. And there are a bunch of old houses (which I still haven't seen - maybe next year). One in particular is a church where they hold a Q&A with the guests for that year. I am sure that this has been said before here by others but I thought I would mention it again to tell my little story.
So, yes, my mother is my chosen traveling companion because, seriously, nobody else would ever give in to the things that I want to do (i.e. Little House stuff - yes, she's been to every site with me).
2011. This was the year of Charlotte Stewart and William Anderson. When we went walking up to the church, Charlotte Stewart came up to us and gave my mom a great big "Hello" and asked how she was doing and so on. Honestly, it was so over-the-top and kind of silly. And I couldn't figure out why she was doing this. So I asked her "Who do you think she is?". I don't quite remember the exact reply but it had something to do with thinking my mother was some old friend of hers or something. I am sure it was embaressing for her, but come on! It was just as uncomfortable for the two of us! And then when they were talking inside the church, she brought up having to point out her friend (apparently she found the right person) and my mom and I just smiled at each other.
So, yes, I did buy a Beadle Bag.
But I also bought a photo of her and a book of William Anderson's that I didn't have for them to sign. I don't know what the building was exactly where they were going to sign the autographs. All I know is that it was down the hill and there was no way my mother could go up and down that. And
apparently they didn't have handicapped shuttles. At least nobody told us of one or that they even existed. In fact, she tried to get on a regular one and just couldn't. So she stayed up on the porch attached to the visitors center to wait. It was SO HOT that day. Just BRUTAL!! And I am NOT a fan of heat. Luckily there is a tree right by that building and I would say I waited almost 2 hours in line. I was about 27th when I got there.
So Charlotte Stewart signed the photo (plus I got one for my brother because he always calls her "a babe"
). But, and maybe it was in my mind, I kind of felt like she was a little less at ease with me because of our earlier situation. Who knows?
And then there is William Anderson. One of the most pleasant people I think I ever met and we had a pretty decent conversation. One thing I noticed, though, is that he
watched me, which made me nervous. Maybe he wasn't thinking anything at all, but I couldn't help thinking he was looking at me like that because either he thought I was the most gorgeous person to ever walk on this earth or the most hideous creature he had ever seen and, basically, I fascinated him.
Anyway, that was it. I didn't take any pictures because I am stupid. I tend to do stupid things like that. But you know what? It was so hot. I was standing for so long. At that point, I just wanted my autographs and to leave. I was going to look at the other things going on but I just could NOT do it. And there was NO sign of a shuttle anywhere. I decided to walk up the opposite hill because I thought it wouldn't be as bad as the other one. And when I got to the top, my mother thought I was going to pass out. The heat was just deadly and we decided to leave.
2012. This year I decided to spend a couple of days up there to see if I could do some genealogical work, too. Anyway, this was completely different weather this time. They held it on Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday this year. So I wanted to go on Friday. It was not only very cool out but very rainy!
We went down to the church for the Q&A. This year it was William Anderson again and now Alison Arngrim. I thought of having her sign her book, but I decided to have her sign a photo instead so I could have all of the pictures in a binder. If I ever get to meet her again, I will have her sign her book.
This time (and I hope they do this from now on) the autograph session was inside the visitors center. That was nice because of the rain and because my mother could wait with me this year. And guess what happened while we were waiting??? A handicapped shuttle drove up! DID THAT THING EXIST LAST YEAR??? Anyway, I wasn't going to use it because I was like 12th in line. I wasn't losing my spot!
Alison Arngrim seemed REALLY nice. She gave me the biggest, nicest smile. But then again, maybe she saw what William Anderson saw and she just feels bad when she looked at me and was being nice.
I had a long list of things I wanted her to sign on her photo (yes, "Who's going to do the cooking?" was one of them
). She did it all. Now, I wanted to say something to her - something very specific - about her book but who do you think threw me off? William Anderson! Why? Because he was watching me very intently again! So I started to talk to him instead! I had him sign another book of his that I didn't have (I really thought I had them all!). As we talked I think he did actually vaguely remember me from last year.
I didn't take pictures this year because I guess a picture with the flash made things blurry because of reflection, or something like that. And the camera I had with me has to use the flash or else everything ends up blurry and orange! So that is my excuse for no pictures this year!
Anyway, I will admit that after I left, all I did was complain about the fact that I didn't get to say what I wanted to about Alison's book to her. Well, if I get to meet her some other time, I will have the book with me to make sure that I tell her!
So as we left, I said to my mother "Is it just me, am I crazy, or does he
watch me?". She laughed and said "Yeah, he does". I said "
WHY?". She laughed and said "I have NO idea". I'm telling you that I am going to end up with a complex over it!
Even though I knew the shuttle now existed, I didn't care to hang around anymore after I got the autographs. But in 2013 I think I will finally go check everything else out. I always wanted to see those buildings since I was a kid, anyway.
Now if William Anderson comes again, I'll go, but I think I am running out of books for him to sign. I know they want you to buy the things to sign at the gift shop. But I think I will sneak in my LH guidebook. After all, it helped me out so much on my many travels.
I just wonder who will be there next year. We'll see.
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I can sure relate to you!
