Baton Rogue Celtic Woman Signing 12-07-08

I debated whether to write a short version of my trip to Baton Rogue or give a longer version, and tell it as things happened. Well, I opted for the longer version, so you may want to skip some of this. This trip covered 1,233. Miles. Would I do it again? For this to happen again, I would double those miles.

Ann and I left Nashville at 7:30 AM Friday morning, December 5^th, and arrived at her sister’s house at 3:00 PM, and we always stay there with her sister whenever we go down there. Ann stayed with her sister and I got up at 4:00 AM Saturday morning and arrived at Barnes and Noble a few minutes before 7:00 AM. When I arrived, there were already two cars there, and one had an Alabama tag. I thought maybe it was Stan (Artist 1), but it turned out to be Phillip (Phil 1123)? And his lovely wife Susan and their beautiful young daughter. They had driven all night from Birmingham. The other couple was from Baton Rogue and not forum members.

Barnes and Noble opened at 9:00 AM so I got my wrist band after Phillip, as the other couple told me to go ahead. I found out that each person only got one arm band, and you could not pick one up for someone else. Phillip was to get one for Stan and I was to get one for a lady I had never met, or even talked to, that was going to help me with picture taking. They were given out different color arm bands that signified when you would be admitted to the signing. I had to have a red arm band so my photographer would be there with me as we went through the signing line. I did not go back through the line, but when I left I had another red arm band.

Now, how I came to get this photographer. About three weeks ago I notified my niece and a girlfriend of hers that I consider being part of my family, what was going to happen and for them to see if they could help me with obtaining passes to the Meet and Greet, which later turned out to be the signing. These ladies can work near miracles in getting things done. But not this time. Then they informed me they had a friend flying in from Oklahoma for that weekend and would be leaving home on Friday the 6^th of Dec. I knew this was important to them as they are die hard New Orleans Saints fans and have season tickets and a reserve parking space for their motor home near the Superdome. It was to cost them $100. just to reserve the space for future use even though they would not be there. What they did provide me with was a name and phone number of a lady that would help me with the picture taking. They also left me the keys to their home, 4 bedrooms on about 7 acres, to use as I wanted while there.

After I got those wrist bands I went on out to their house, thank goodness I had a GPS, and when I checked their mail I found the package Moscapoet had mailed to me there was at the post office. I head to the post office and got there at 10:40 AM, and the sign says they close on Saturday at 10:30 AM. I saw a car and went inside and heard talking behind the door. I knocked and the lady let me have the package after I signed for it. Now I set the GPS to go back to my niece’s house and it would not stay on. Apparently the battery had lost power, even though it was plugged into a power source, but nor a cigarette lighter. Anyway I had come about 10 miles with a lot of twisting and turning and could not seem to find my way back. After a couple of stops for information I made it back.

I called the lady that was to help me with the pictures and we set up a dinner that evening with she and her husband. This went extremely well and we were all set for Sunday as we had to be in the bookstore by 1:30 we were told Needless to say I got there early and got the best parking spot on the parking lot. By the front door.

In the meantime I had the gift box Moscapoet has sent me, along with a few envelopes to deliver when the ladies arrived. I had added an envelope for all the ladies, including Alex, who was not there, along with those for Rachel and Joanne. How was I going to manage all of this, along with my camera`s and the items I wanted to have signed? I found Josh, a bookstore employee and told him about what I had. He took all those items that were to be given and placed them in a safe place until needed. Then I met Gabrielle, who was running this event for the bookstore, and we seemed to have everything worked out.

My photographer showed up, and her husband also came. Since he was more familiar with camera`s I gave him the Nikon and his wife used my Kodak, both digital camera`s. I told them to take lots of pictures, when and of whom was most important but to try and get everything that want on. At times I would get a camera from them just to make sure I got to take some of the pictures. Now, I am getting ahead of myself.

It is finally 2:30 PM and all these beautiful ladies came walking in from a back door. Straight to their table, with Lisa first, then Orlagh, Mairead Lynn and Chloe. They were dressed so beautifully. Each of them was smiling and Lisa looked at me and gave me a smile. Mairead saw me and gave me a wave and that famous beautiful smile. Orlagh and Chloe smiled at me and I got a wave from Lynn. I had positioned myself straight in front of their table, and in front of a display, so I was not in anyone’s way. There was already a long line waiting their turn winding through the bookcases, but Gabrielle had already come to me and said she wanted me to be the last in line so I could present the gifts without anyone behind me, and I thought that was the best thing to do. This left me free to stay there and enjoy everything that was going on with the ladies. I moved over near Lisa by a bookcase and stayed there near her most of the time they were there, and got my camera and took several pictures of all these ladies. Lisa came around near me and talked to a young girl that had just come through the line by her. She must have reminded her of Ellie.

After a while the line is getting short, so I go over and get in line, and they had brought all the gifts I had brought and placed them near where I was standing at the start. I had noticed another line had formed by where the gifts were, and Joanne made an announcement that that line was for the people that wanted to take pictures. Gabrielle then told me to wait until all the pictures had been taken and most of the people would be gone so I could then present those gifts to the ladies. I begin to wonder if that was a good decision, as I had several things that I wanted signed. So I then got my Nikon and get ready to take pictures of the ladies. The ladies had all gotten up and were having their pictures taken with some children, and then adults, so now I find my male photographer and give him the camera so he can take pictures of me with the ladies. I had noticed the people had stood in the group at different places with the ladies to have pictures taken. It then became my turn and I went over beside Lisa, on my left, and Chloe was on my right. I then requested Mairead be beside me, so there I am with Lisa on my left and Mairead on my right, and we had our arms around each other. There were several pictures taken of this, and then I noticed that the other ladies were not in the picture with us. I then told them I wanted them in the picture, and we then had pictures taken with all the ladies. I was not about to let a chance to have a picture taken with Lisa and Mairead go by.

After all the picture taking was completed and the ladies sat back down I approached Mairead and announced to her and all the ladies that Scott Manke (Moscapoet) had these gifts sent to me and were from the Mairead Forum and there were items for each of them. They all thanked me and I guess it was about now that I realized that they were all calling me Jim

Now I got to talk with each of these ladies, and I had been doing that during the picture taking. They were so easy to talk with, and I got to talk with Lisa a lot, with Mairead, Chloe, Lynn, and especially Orlagh.

Every one of these ladies made me so proud to be here with them, and they just mingled and talked to the ones that were still there. Joanne started trying to get them to leave, but it was so hard for them to leave. They did finally begin to leave and I received smiles from them as they left, and Orlagh then blew me a kiss.

This was such an unforgettable event, and one that I will never forget. To think that I had the privilege of being in this place with all these Celtic Woman and stay with then for two and a half hours, and get to mingle with them and talk with each of them is a dream come true.

Was this event what I had expected? Oh no, it was so much more that that. When I decided to drive to Baton Rogue I just thought I would just get some items signed by these ladies, speak to them and shake their hand and say a few words to them. I cannot begin to tell you what a blessed event this was. Every one of them looked so beautiful and they were dressed fantastically. Dressed to the 9`s, every one of them.

Lynn, I was so happy to finally get to meet you. Somehow the picture I had for you to sign got lost, but you signed my program and the message I had written about you after the West Palm Beach Show. You are beautiful, and a true Celtic Woman.

Chloe, as I told you I have witnessed you and your voice mature and you are an especially beautiful lady. As I told you, you are an absolute Angel.

Orlagh, you are almost impossible to describe. I know what a sweet beautiful lady you are and you just fill my heart with love for you. So much talent; and so compassionate.

Mairead, I loved you from the start and I love who you are, and everything about you. There is no one in this world that has your talent, and you also have such a sweet spirit. You are so special to me, and yes, you will always be in my heart.

Lisa, when I saw you walk in, it was as though I was seeing someone that looked so perfect. Lisa, you looked so spectacularly beautiful. I know you are always beautiful, but this was so exceptional. I had not seen you in more that a year and it was so wonderful to see you again. As I have stated many times, there is not another person in this world that can perform the songs I like as you can. You bring so much more than that on stage when you perform. You fill my heart with love, and I will always love you.

I got back home Tuesday night, and I lived this event over and over on the way home.

Jim