My Life with A Sports Fanactic....

[Reeality]

My Life with a Sports fanatic / Diary of a Mad Woman

After a calm restful evening, 4 extra kids staying up to 2 am and then a wake up call at 7 am, we had the normal parent responsibilities, 1 baseball game and a school carnival to go to. Finally on the road at 12:00 we only had a 4 hour trip ahead of us to New York to get a Dennis Rodman autograph. We had originally planned to take the kids with us but after a few “Dennis who?” and “do we have to stand in line again?” we decided to dump all the kids with the grandparents and trek out on our own. Now this being only the 3rd autograph signing I’ve been to in the last month, I still had some energy to paste an enthusiastic smile on my sleep deprived face as my husband asked “honey aren’t you excited?”
The trip itself wasn’t too bad, we only hit one major thunderstorm near Allentown and the minor road stops for gas and mountain dew (my husband is an addict) and fighting the New York traffic jams we finally arrived at 4:00 pm. Since the signing was in a shopping mall and this was New York, it only took us 20 minutes to find a parking space (good job honey.) We then proceeded to make sure we had all of the equipment we needed, jersey, digital camera, extra batteries… okay, okay I did leave the camera in the car and had to run back for it later, but I did mention I was sleep deprived didn’t I? Since we had been to this mall a few time before, we remembered where the store was and in no time were standing in front of it where security guards were trying to disperse the growing crowd of nosey shoppers. We had already purchased our ticket by phone so we only had to fight our way through the crowd to pick it up. Now don’t let the line in front of the store fool you because that was only for appearance, we had to go across the hall to an empty storage room to wait until it was our time. I was here before so I was prepared for this room, the gray block walls, concrete floor, forklifts and some sticky gooey substance on the floor and walls, no wonder they didn’t turn the lights on. Since there was no view and almost no air we proceeded to get to know those around us. The man in front of me was very nice and entertained me with his stories of autograph signings experiences. My husband choose to make conversation with a few gentlemen behind us, and that turned into a battle of who knew more about sports and cards and autographs and eBay. “Oh, why had I forgotten the I-pod?” was all I could ask myself.
Then after being told 3 times that Mr. Rodman was about 15 minutes away (he stopped to get something to eat) he finally arrived with his posse. I like the word entourage, but the man in front told me posse was the right word. Only 45 minutes late and a full stomach, compared to us who had dairy queen burgers at a road stop on the 4 hour trip, I guess that wasn’t too bad. I have to admit I was expecting a pretty big, pierced, tattooed looking guy but to be honest he didn’t appear to be that big. He was rather a little too skinny and I didn‘t see that many piercings. Now we only had to wait another 15 minutes while he signed those objects that were mailed in, or maybe had himself a snack? I don’t know I was too busy worrying about bats roosting in the rafters over my head. Finally the line started to move, I couldn’t wait to see daylight again or at least the bright, busy, crowded hall of the mall. I got the camera ready only to discover that the batteries were dead, of course. Quickly changing batteries and running across the hall to wait in the normal looking line we were almost there. When it was our turn to get the autograph, my husband had the jersey ready and I nodded to Mr. Rodman then stepped out of the way to get ready to snap the picture. 30 seconds later we were walking back across the hall to find someone to give us the authenticating sticker. Another 30 seconds and we were back out in the parking lot for the 4 hour trip home. Arriving home at 10:00 pm wasn’t too bad. even if we hit another storm on the way home and had no visibility for a few hours. A 10 hour trip to spend 30 seconds getting a single autograph but since it makes my husband happy and I love him with all my heart… I would do it all over again, and I am sure I will, in two weeks to be exact… He just told me we are going to see Rowdy Roddy Piper…
Is my smile still there?

[Vince15Fan]

Heh, good story and very well written.

-JP

[Reeality]

Thanks

Ree

[thebighurt035]

Great story Ree.

My wife thinks I'm a little crazy going for autographs too,but she still goes with me.

I'm planning on going to a small signing on May 20th for Carlos May of the White Sox with a friend but the wife said she wants to go.

I think deepdown inside she likes going to these too.

Roy

[Bondsaway]

Well now I understand when frank tells me he bought you this or that nice card or whatever. You MUST appease the Gods! But look at it this way Ree, his limo could have broke down and not showed at all! Or better he was delayed and will be here tomorrow, your tickets will still be good! Did we mention there are NO REFUNDS? Glad to see you can find that silver in at times the bad things about the hobby!

[Reeality]

I actually don't mind, at least we didn't get a ticket this time lol

[TKCards]

WOW !!! Rowdy Roddy Piper.. Is that at another signing or is Frank dragging you up here to State College to see RAW? Ya know, we do have a nice guest room and we're only about a mile from the stadium/Bryce Jordan Center.