Today I met Ricky Martin. Five words I never thought I would be able to say and yet on this momentous day, November 3, 2010, I have done just that. It all started with an email, (seems to be a recurring theme in my life when life altering events are involved; my husband and I were brought together by one little email, it's true). So I received this Borders Books email on Monday and didn't discover it until Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours before this event was to take place. Ricky's memoir ME came out yesterday and to promote it, he was having a book signing at the Borders at Time Warner Center today. Well, I saw that email and was beside myself since this bookstore happens to be a mere two blocks from my place of business. OMG!!! I was suddenly 12 years old again and Menudo was like the most amazing musical group in existence. Here was my opportunity to meet my childhood idol and I was not about to pass up a day 26 years overdue. The short version? I bought the book yesterday afternoon, stood on line this morning at 8:00 (I am usually just rolling out of bed at this hour! yet I have to be at work at 9, needless to say, I am late to work, A LOT), with my pal Lola, got a wristband, and went to work.
Four hours later I was standing face to face with the man whose music I grew up listening to and adored, the man who rocked the world with his revelation that he was a "fortunate homosexual man" on March 29, 2010, and the man that I had watched on Oprah (another idol of mine) just the day before! Yeah...I would like to say I was cool as a cucumber when I walked up to that table and stuck my hand out to say "Nice to meet you", but I was not. The moment I shook his hand I spazzed, began blinking uncontrollably, my voice was as wobbly as my knees. I was utterly starstruck and a complete mess. I was so shaken I could barely speak. The whole thing mercifully lasted about three or four seconds. I got my handshake and his autograph, but he looked concerned that I appeared to be having a stroke before his very eyes. It was over before I could redeem myself and we were quickly ushered away from the area and that was that. What I took away from my brief brush with greatness was that he seemed genuine, genuinely happy to be there joking and laughing with everyone. His smile was real, there was nothing forced or contrived about his nature and it was pretty great to see that he was the same individual in person that you see on TV. He has this energy surrounding him and it is more than just the fact he is famous. It is the type of energy that radiates from within. It is infectious as evidenced by all of the people who showed up today to bask in that glow. This is more than just a gush from a fan, it is real, it is tangible and I can only hope to one day be able to meet him once more if for no other reason than to show him I CAN TOO!! string a coherent sentence together...
