My first Meet and Greet

It’s December and I have just found out that Rascal Flat’s is coming to concert on the campus the Amherst campus of the University of Massachusetts. I just happen that Blake is touring with them. Here is my chance to see him, and maybe meet him and yes, get my picture taking with him. How could I possible go to a Blake Shelton Meet & Greet by myself? I must find away to include my at the time 17 year old daughter. Then it comes to me. I will help her join his fan club. Yes!! Caroline can also become a true BSer. Quickly, I get my fingers typing. She must become one before the deadline ends to request M&G’s. So, I went ahead and submitted her info, and a couple weeks later she was a true blue member.

The following is an observation I wrote after the concert. It was posted on The Blake Shelton website the day after the concert.

Around 1:30 in the afternoon my husband, Eric, daughter Caroline and I took of for the concert at the Mullins Center in Western Mass. We had a 2 and a half hour trip. The day before I was in a tizzy because of the imposing blizzard that was about to strike. My oldest daughter Rachael would be working till into the night and I did not want her driving home in snow, she has a little beater car. Eric called the venue and they assured him is not supposing to snow till after midnight out there. He said where going. My worries and fears of being stranded left and were replaced with excitement as we sped are way down the mass pike. We had reserved a room at the Springfield downtown Marriot, which is a half hour south U. Mass. We got to the hotel at 4:30 and right away Eric wants to eat. I don’t, but Caroline does. I said I would never be ready to leave on time. This said, I did end up in a sports bar eating awesome clam chowder and feeling like I was going to come out of skin. I had to calm myself. I mean I am a grown women, but is everyday you meet a recording star. My nerves just deterred up in the room. My hair was to frizzy, my contacts make my eye sight to blurry, I was almost in tears. But everyone else was calm, Caroline fixed my hair in the car on the way to the concert and once again all was right in the world. I have never been on the U mass campus which I am a little surprised about. Both my girls have friends who go there, and needless to say so do the rest of Mass. The campus was huge! Finally we parked. I didn’t want to bring my coat inside, so I was wearing a cotton jacket, and yes it was 20 degrees. We got on line but forgot the camera, Eric runs back to the car. We start talking to the couple in front of us. He was a truck driver and was quite in love with Tim McGraw. She likes Blake, or so he said. At this point I still hadn’t figures out how to get the M&G tickets. The cell phone rings Eric can not find the camera in the car. I panic! Did I leave it at the hotel? This would figure. He calls back he found it SAVED!! Mean time the truck driver points Caroline and I in the direction of will call. We wait till Eric comes back to hold are place in line. When he comes back we run, then run back again to wait. While on line you meet so many people. One family went to see an American Idol concert, and was so excited to be seeing Rascal Flatts; Actually the mom was so funny and kept us laughing while we froze. There was actually a guy in front of us with no coat on. He finally turned to his girlfriend and said I’m numb. We finally got in; it was so crowed by the merchandise table I started to feel a little lost. I finally went up to someone wearing a plastic badge and asked for help. It was OK; we just had to stand by the wall till they called us. Again we meet several people, all nice going to meet Blake. When it finally came time to go we were rounded up put in line and up three flights of stairs. There we waited for a cue to continue. All of a sudden out walks Jason Aldean!! “Hey ya’ll” He said Out came everybody’s camera, Flash Flash, “Ya’ll here to meet Blake?” I don’t even know if anyone answered him. He was adorable. Finally into the room we go. We made a half circle around the room. After all the waiting and freezing I was no longer nerves, what ever happen happens. Caroline was first in line me right behind her. The guy comes in tells us he will take a picture, and that Blake will sign something. WHAT an autograph I thought they were finished, no more. We search for something for him to sign. Next thing he walks in the room. His presence was so big; it took up the whole room. Not just his height but the fact that here’s the guy that you’ve been listening to and watching on TV, right in front of you!!!

The above was original posted on Blake Shelton's website in February 2006. Blake's fan club and website are great, everyone that posts is really nice and helpful. Please go check it out!!!