This past weekend was a "Collin Raye" themed weekend. Originally my Hunny and I were supposed to have a weekend away, but he was unable to get the time off from work, so instead Mom went with me, and we had a good time.
We left Friday morning to head down to Rancho Cucamonga (6 hrs away). The trip was pretty much uneventful, but pleasant. We checked into the hotel and got ready to go to the concert. I was nervous as could be knowing that in a couple hours I would be meeting my favorite singer of all time. Eek!
We decided to find the "Victoria Cultural Center" and then figure out dinner from there. We soon discovered it is right behind a mall, so Mom and I shared some food from the food court, then wandered back to the Center to find out where to meet for the Fan Club Meet & Greet. We were directed to meet around the Jack Benny statue around 7pm, so Mom and I found a bench nearby and waited (as we were about 30 min early).
Soon another "Backstage" pass holder appeared and eventually I meandered over to her and we talked for a while as we both shuffled around nervously. 7pm came and went, and the nerves grew with each minute that passed. Several more fan club members found us and we all chatted anxiously awaiting our time to go see Collin. Finally around 7:45 Tim, Collin's manager came out and told us he'd be back in a few minutes to get us.
As promised, a few minutes later Tim motioned for us to follow him, so we did, then he instructed us to line up against a wall, and within a couple moments, Collin Raye came around the cornere. OMG...I was 2nd in line to meet Collin Raye. I was so stinking nervous, but he is an amazingly kind man. He talked to us all like he was just a normal guy (not an amazing singer), and signed the photos we had for him. I had my picture taken with him, and then as I was walking away, I thanked him, and then he thanked me back by name...aaaahhhhh! What a memory.
I rushed to my seat in a daze and then enjoyed the best concert I've been to of his. It went too quickly, but was great. The venue was perfect (a small playhouse/theater that seats less than 500 people...intimate and perfect). That night as we were headed back to the hotel I came up with a plot. I wanted to do something for my hunny since he was so disappointed he couldn't make it. When I got to the hotel I uploaded my picture with Collin to Costco's online photo processing (there was a Costco just across the street for the hotel) and was told that my 8x10 would be ready by 11:30am.
Mom and I went to Costco the next morning and picked up the photo (Along with a few other things), and eventually headed over to Bakersfield for the 2nd Collin Raye Concert at the Kern County Fair.
Now, you have to understand....I am not much of a bold person, at all...I am happy to be the wallflower, but I was determined that I was going to get something special for my hunny, so I figured I would walk around the grandstand at the fair and see if I could find where the Meet & Greet winners were meeting. I thought I had missed them, but on my way back I saw two ladies standing near a tent, one with a bouquet of roses. I then saw their backstage passes and determined that this must be it. I mustered all my courage and then waited nearby, hoping to see Tim (Collin's Manager) and ask him if there was any way he could get Collin to sing my picture from the night before. Tim never showed up, though, but one of the fairground workers came by and I asked him. He said he would find out and to just wait where I was. A few minutes later he led the two fan club members to some seats under the tent. I waited around still, kinda thinking it wasn't going to work out, then the same guy came around the corner and motioned me inside the tent. He told me to sit next to the ladies, and within a few minutes, I was shaking Collin Raye's hand again..OMG! He did sign the picture for my hunny and commented on my Dodger gear and how he was disappointed they didn't make it this year. WHOA! Two meetings with Collin Raye in less than 24 hours...how lucky can one girl be.
The one fan I met, Jennifer, was gracious enough to get a picture with me and Collin (I didn't have my camera this time) and got my address and is going to send me the picture when it gets developed. She is a very sweet lady, and later, before the concert, we got a picture together. Collin Raye Fans ROCK!
Welp, this was long-winded, and I apologize for that, but here are the pics.
I hope you all had a great weekend!
All my best to my bestest friend and her hunny!!!!
