I Just Flew in From Florida, and Boy are My Arms (and Legs and Back) Tired!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 10:06AM We flew in from Florida yesterday, and arrived a little after 8:00 p.m. Mike got the car and then picked the rest of us up, and as we drove toward home we debated...should we go straight to Borders or go home first? We ended up driving to the bookstore first thing, and I ran inside to see if she was even still around.
Oh, by "she" I mean The Pioneer Woman. She was in Dallas last night, signing her cookbook.
I don't think the employees were prepared for the onslaught. Most of them were walking around with glazed eyes, looking either perplexed or amazed.
I found out that the line was long (hours long), and that they were going to keep the store open until everyone had had their cookbooks signed. Whoever was crazy enough to stay until the end. Apparently even Ree was crazy enough to stay until the end.
Michaela had gone in with me, and we walked the line just to see how long it was, and to see PW, as well. I felt like we were playing a live version of "Where's Waldo", but with Ree. We finally discovered her, and I snapped a quick picture; she was all smiles and seemed so friendly.
We drove home and got Christian and Eliana settled (they were already sacked out), and then I headed back to Borders with my camera and my cookbook.
Then I waited. And I waited. And I waited. It would have been a lot of fun if Michaela could have stayed or to have my mom, or some friends there. I spoke with a few people in the line around me. And we wound our way around the entire store. There was a section at the back of the store that was lined with chairs and small stools; it was a relief to sit down after standing for so long. We would sit and then everyone would shift over one or two chairs every so often. It was like a strange and slow game of musical chairs. Without the music. And a lot more people than chairs.
I was pretty near the end of the line; there were about fifteen people behind me. Since there were no more people waiting after this particular group, they decided just to move the chairs along and keep on sitting in them. There were two women right behind me, and then a couple (like a husband and wife) just behind them. The women discovered the couple sitting in their chairs backwards.
The ladies asked these two why they were facing the wrong way. They looked over their shoulders and then pushed against the floor with their feet so that their chairs scooted forward. Or backward, however you want to look at it. Pretty funny. Pretty much everything is funny at one in the morning, though.
I am too lazy to move chairs and scoot them along. I just stuck with my own two feet. And eventually they got me to where I was headed...
It was 1:02 a.m. At this point the signing was pretty quick, but she was just as sweet as she could be. She never stopped smiling, and we had a brief conversation. ("Hope you get some sleep tonight!" "I hope you do, too!") (I didn't say it was brilliant.) It was fun to be there with her even though it was such a short moment. When she first began writing in my book I said,"You are such a good sport!" She replied,"I would never leave ya'!" And that's how she seems...like someone who will stick it out to the end, and who cares as much about the eight hundredth person in line as the first person in line.
Now I just need to get to the store, stock up my fridge (it's pretty empty since we were gone) and git to cookin'!
fun
Reader Comments (9)
Yea!!!! I'm so happy you made it. And it wasn't even past your bedtime! I'm sure it was worth the wait and now maybe you'll be inspired to cook...maybe.
I would have stood there with you Christina! I would NOT however, have sat there signing books till one in the morning which is why she is famous and beloved and I am not. I'm glad you got home safe AND got your book signed. :)
Glad you were able to meet her and get your cookbook signed. It's funny... I think this is the first picture I have ever seen of YOU! :)
it is always exciting to meet someone 'famous' - i love it!
oh my goodness 1:02 am! You guys must've been exhausted! But you got to meet her! How fun is that!
Glad you made it! She' s coming to Nashville on Tuesday and we're going to get our book signed too!
So glad you made it! I was wondering if you were going to make it... way to go!
Oh my! I remember our first conversation about her a year or more ago!
I've loved her since :)
She's in nashville on Tuesday and I have had crazy thoughts of driving there to see her but with driving hours and then waiting hours, i don't think it's for me!
So cool you got to meet her!
Let me know what you try and love out of the cookbook.
love you so-
so glad you stuck it out, Christina!