Part 2: Meet and Swoon time!

By Sandie Dapoz
(photo by Debbie D'Angelo)

(I refuse to apologize, in advance, for all the exclamation marks and words in caps… it was just that kind of experience, so proceed at your own risk!)

We hurried into the line for the Meet and Greet as soon as they told us where to line up, and were near the front, yay! (Although I found out later that if you were at the back, there was more time, and the Security NOTZI’s were not so… NOTZI-ish.)

I got really anxious in the line, because we could see how it was set up, and HRN was at the end of the line. We were at the top of a down stairway and when I went to move down a step as the person in front of me had done, the security person there all but yelled at me “DON’T YOU MOVE!!!” Yikes!! That was my FIRST clue.

There was still no one who had reached Poppys’ table and he appeared very tired, was tugging on his wig and twiggling around like he actually didn’t feel well. I heard him say to the security person standing nearest to his spot that he thought he would like to just walk around and meet and greet the fans, and he was told to stay where he was!!!! I cannot imagine anyone being ruder to the prince than that person was! GRRRR!

When we got down to floor level, there was still no one at his table and I said to the NOTZI there, “Can we just go under the rope here? We only want to meet Poppycock anyway…?” I was then told that we HAD to go thru the complete line, stopping for each person!!!!!! Even though I felt bad for those other top 10 winners, I was really offended! I PAID dearly for the chance to meet HRN and I am NOT a third grader in a school lunch line!

We continued to the entrance area to the tables, and there was a guy standing there. He wasn’t wearing the vest that the rest of the NOTZIs were, so I thought he was in line to enter. I stepped up next to him, and when he put his hand on me and said, “DO NOT MOVE,” I realized HE was security, too.

Furious, I looked up at him, then down at my arm where his hand was, and back up at him. He removed his hand. Quickly. I said “Do you work for AGT or the theater?” and he said “the theater.” Which I am pretty sure was not strictly true.

Don’t get me wrong, I DO understand the need for security completely. I do feel, however, that they were totally over the top in carrying out their responsibilities! Especially given that this was Indianapolis, no bag checks were ever carried out and folk were free to bring in what they liked. Not to mention, you have to take care of the patrons just like you do the celebrities, manners wise! These people were RUDE!

OK, got that off my chest….. (to resume my story after I was so rudely interrupted, LOL!)

Finally we were let in to the meet area, and stopped at each table as instructed. I felt it important to be on best behavior as a Poppy, so we meeted and greeted each of them and they were lovely and interesting.

Then THE moment of the evening arrived and I approached HRN! Oh. My. Goodness! He was SO sparkly! And even more beautiful close up! FLAWLESS. He looked down at me (I am only 5’2”) and I actually managed to squeak out “Poppycock!!!” I was still lost in admiration of his glitterification….. even his lips sparkled!! He said “Yes!?” and I managed to snap out of a full fugue internal swoon and say “I’m one of your poppies!”

He smiled and said, “Yes, you are!” Ohmy. Now what? Everything I intended to say went right out my left ear….. so I said “My name is Sandie Dapoz,” and before I could go on, he said “I know that name! Sandie with an IE, right?”

OK. I confess. At that point my brain AND my heart took a nosedive into total shock!! (I believe that he knew this because I had introduced him several weeks before to a friend who may be able to help his career, but I really can’t give any more details on that until any deal that happens is finalized!) So I asked him if he had heard from this person, and he backed off a little and looked at me from under his eyelashes and said “Actually, he never answered me….”

I wanted to just drop thru the floor!!! I was SO shocked that I blurted out “Why that little booger!!!!” Talk about a surreal experience…. I instantly COULD NOT BELIEVE what I had just said and I was completely and totally embarrassed! My face must have been waaaaay beyond red!

Meanwhile, our charming prince continued, “Well, I just assumed he was really busy, you know….” And paused for a breath, then finished, “But YES, that little BOOGER!!!”

I wanna tell you, every single poppy out there, I wanted to laugh so hard at THAT I nearly peed my pants!!!!!!! BWAHHHHAAAAAHAAAAA!!! What a truly funny thing to say! We all know the prince is witty and very quick minded, but this just killed me! Those beautiful, red, sparkly lips forming the word “BOOGER!” Ohmydeargawd!!!

Priceless!!! I will NEVER forget that moment. Never!

Then I got out two pics I had brought for him to sign, one was the elegant shot Shawn posted not too long ago that shows him in three-quarter view making a moue, and the other was a piece of my fan art showing him with butterfly wings as John, surrounded by a collage background of different Poppycocks!

I had brought a full color version and a sepia/color version and asked him which he liked better…. He looked down at them, and ran his finger over them, telling me who took each of the Poppycock pix, and then chose the full color one. So I gave that one to him! Then I asked him to sign the other one, and he did…. Writing both PP and John Quale on it. I was thrilled!

The security NOTZI said, “Time to go!” and I blurted out, “One more minute!” and then gave him the gifts I had brought: some bling for Steve to use as wanted, a t-shirt of my own design, showing Walt Whitman surrounded by nature with the words “To Fly Away,” a tiny little antique balancing clown made of metal, which he took from me and said “I love him!!!” and a smallish tin full of collage and art making goodies, for the bus! I explained this to him and said “in case you get bored on the bus!” and he looked surprised and just leaned over and grabbed me in a hug!!!!!!!!!!

{{{{{ THUD!!!!! }}}}}}}}}

That was the second moment I will never forget! ♥

It was time to go, but my heart was singing as we left. I cannot image having a better time meeting our dear HRN than that. You know how you always think you will cry, throw up on your shoes, become speechless and a total dork at such a moment? The truth is that John is VERY good at putting others at ease, even though HE is shy himself.

As we walked away, the NOTZI near by said to me, “That was really sweet of you!” And HRN seemed a little happier…. I’d like to think I cheered him up, just a weensy little tad!

It was so much more than I expected, and again, it speaks to how charming, and captivating, and polite, and talented, and sparkly he really is!



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