More Than A Dream...

Chapters 1 and 2

                          CHAPTER 1

                “Wish me luck!” I said to my friends as I left them after hanging out, like usual, on a Friday night in late June.

                “Good luck and have fun!!” they said.

                I smiled and went into my house that I live in with my mom. I sighed. I guess I should tell you a little bit about myself...

                My name is Erin and I'm 28 years old. Yeah, I know... Way too old to still be living at home. But unfortunately, at this point, I'm just not financially stable enough to live on my own. I live in a nothing-special town in Northeast Pennsylvania and am dying to get out of the area. I don't really have anywhere particular in mind as to where I want to live, I just know that it's not here. I have a full time, 9-5 office job that I've been at for 4 years. It's not my dream job or anything, but it gets the bills paid. So for now, it's enough until I figure out how to make my dreams come true.

                Anyway, I have to focus and get some things ready for tomorrow and then head to bed. I'm going to Wizard World NYC (think Comic Con, but smaller-or so I've heard) tomorrow to see my celebrity crush and dream man, Norman Reedus. I've already met him a couple of times at conventions, and let me tell you, it's worth the money! For the last couple of years, since I started watching the hit show that Norman stars in, The Walking Dead, I've been going to conventions to meet him and some of the other stars of the show whenever I can. I've always had a fascination with celebrities and honestly, my "dream job" would be working with them in some way. Not as an actor, because I don't like to have attention on me, but maybe something behind the scenes. Maybe a casting associate or personal assistant. But until I'm able to save up enough money and move to a more populated area, like LA or NYC, I'm going to have to settle for getting my fix at conventions when I can.

                I haven't been to see Norman for almost a year and I'm a healthy mix of nervous and excited as I get my gifts for Norman ready to go. Every time I go to see him, I bring him a present or two. This time, it's a book and a couple of little toys to keep him entertained while he's signing autographs all day. I know it probably seems a little strange that I would bring him presents, but the smile on his face when he gets presents... It's breathtaking. Even if it's the smallest, cheapest gift, he gets so excited. He's always so appreciative and kind to his fans. That's what keeps me going back to these things. Plus, I went to Wizard World in NYC last year and it was, by far, my favorite convention. It's all the way down in lower Manhattan, and believe it or not, is one of the smaller conventions. So you get to spend more time with him, although I'm sure I will still be extremely taken aback by him, as I always am, and won't be able to speak. Sigh. Oh well. Just being in his presence is well worth the grueling 3 plus hour trip to NYC by bus- my usual form of transportation to NYC. I have to catch the bus at 4:10 a.m. and will make it to NYC at about 7:30 a.m. It's already almost 11 o'clock, so I get into bed to try to get some much needed sleep.

                I must have fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep because I woke up at the unGodly hour (as you can tell, I am NOT a morning person...) of 3 a.m. Despite the hour, I popped up out of bed and hopped right into the shower. I was out of the shower 15 minutes later. I made sure to get a good shave on my legs, pits, and lady parts (ya know, just in case it goes REALLY well with Norman this time! haha). Although I am totally kidding, because yeah, that's NEVER going to happen... I know enough about Norman to know that in women, he seems to prefer 6 foot tall, never ate a cheeseburger, skinny, gorgeous models. I am none of the above. I wouldn't say I'm ugly, but I'm not anywhere near gorgeous. I would say I'm average looking, most commonly described by the opposite sex as "cute". And I'm constantly getting comments on my height, even from completely random strangers. I'm just barely 5 feet tall and you would probably be surprised by how often people feel the need to tell me how short I am. As if I don't know, and they're doing me a favor by letting me know. To say it's annoying would be an understatment. I'm also average weight/body type. I'm not overweight, but I'm also not a stick. I've got some curves and although I could probably lose a few pounds, I like to eat. And I do not like to exercise. I'm content with my body. But I am certainly no model. Oh well, it's not as if I am one of those crazy fan girls that I hear of that truly believe with all of their hearts that they will, in fact, one day marry and have Norman Reedus's  babies. But that being said, it's nice to daydream about.