Okay, finally my recap!! I’ve been going back and forth about how to do this, because I am naturally long-winded, so I thought I’d do just a quick blurb to be different. BUT, I realized that I really enjoy reading all the recaps (because I can’t get enough!) and reading them is almost like being there. So here goes:

January 10-13: I’m cruising the sites, feeling a little like it’s the day after Christmas because I’d recently committed to going to the luncheon, but April seems SO far away… the boards are quieting down… and then I read AuntieT’s post saying “if there’s any way to get to Die Mommie, Die! you should do it.” Now, I have not even considered it. It’s a nice thought, but certainly not a real possibility.

But… the thirteen year old fangirl inside me has been gaining strength, and I think the lack of sleep finally gives her the oomph she needs to break free. It’s just a thought: “How much would it really cost, anyway?”

(I’d been sick since New Year’s, and missing that much work made anything other than food and rent absolutely out of the question.)

But my little fangirl asks “How much?” To humor her, I ask George. I pick poor George for several reasons, but the top two are: 1) I LOVE his posts- he’s smart AND funny. Great combination! 2) It was his play by play that got me thinking that logistically I could really go to New York- in April.

To my surprise, George is not only still on the boards, he’s willing to answer all my questions. And my little fangirl was just hopping around in my brain screaming “I wanna go, I wanna go!! Can we?! Huh, huh?? Can we?” When I found out how inexpensive it really is to get to New York and back, I cave- just a little- and that’s enough. Smart little fangirl informs me that I actually have THREE paychecks before rent is due. She wins.

My friend Callie forever endears herself to me at work when she says “Just think, in two days you’ll be right there, seeing him, talking to him, breathing the same air…” She gets me. Little fangirl is pleased.

January 13!!!
6:00am: I oversleep!!! Luckily, I have all my stuff together. My friend Anita, who has been telling me non-stop that I’m crazy, has contributed to my choice of clothing. She and little fangirl agreed that I should wear red- stand out. Anita drives me to the bus station.

7:00am: Bus terminal. I read the ticket probably thirty-five times in the next thirty minutes, just to make sure I was actually going the right direction. (The Dartmouth coach really only goes one way from that terminal!)

7:30am: I board the bus. I feel a little like throwing up, but in a good way. I try to watch the movie, but I can’t concentrate. I have never before had the experience of feeling the time passing WHILE watching a movie. I pull out my paper, and start taking notes.

Just an aside: the bathrooms on the bus are like swaying, bouncing port-a-johns. I wouldn’t recommend them except in an emergency.

9:25am: BOSTON!! I love Boston! I used to live in Beverly and work in Salem. I used to go to the city all the time, but since I moved to the backwoods of NH, I haven’t been back…

I settle in to wait patiently (!) for George to arrive. He said he’d be at South Station about 10:30.

9:45am: I buy a book… and can’t concentrate enough to read it. First time THAT’S ever happened.

10:10am: I keep thinking that “I’m not really here. I’m actually still asleep, I’ve missed the bus and this is all a dream.” You know that dream where you go to the bathroom, and then- you wake up and nearly kill yourself tripping over the cats in your mad dash to the bathroom so you don’t have an accident? It’s like that, only worse.

10:15am: I call Anita and leave a message: “I’m outside of my mind right now, and I don’t know how to get back in. Please tell me I made it to the bus on time…”

10:21am: Anita calls me back to tell me I’m awake, not sane, but certainly awake. I think I’m getting hives.

10:26am: I tell myself I will NOT call George…

George!!! Yay!! I’m so happy I forget to look at the time. I think I babble a little bit, but George is so sweet- maybe he just doesn’t feel like he knows me well enough to tell me I’m crazy…

11:00am: Bus ride to NYC takes 20 minutes!

Not really, but it feels like it. This is the first time I’ve been able to just gush about Van, Luke, ATWT, the boards… How can I describe finally being able to talk to someone who gets it? Vantastic! (Cheesy? Yeah, it is... LOL) I’m surprised I even had a voice left after my marathon babbling session.

2:45pm: NYC!!!! My first time!! I’m so excited and nervous and just happy!

The first thing George does when is buy me a pretzel! Oh, George!! What a sweetheart! (He’s right; it does taste a little like a hot dog.)

George’s 2 ½ hour Tour: I don’t look down the entire time. I’m such a dork! George has to keep reminding me to take pictures, because I’m just staring, and walking and talking. (Yup, even with all the excitement of being in the city, all I can talk about is Van!)

George wants to print the group photo from the 01/05 DMD trip, so I wander around Duane Reade. I find GREEN TEA GUM! I show it to George, and he says buy it! I’m grinning like a fool, and the cashier looks at me funny. How could she know that green tea gum is the highlight, so far, of my trip to NYC!

We walk down to Central Park, and I’m just in awe of the city. Twilight is falling, the city is lighting up… I’m just in heaven. I look out over Central Park and say, “I’ve gotta get out of the woods!” George, in a burst of brilliance, narrates, “She said, as she looked out over the trees and water.” I laugh. “Yeah, but when I look out into the trees back home, the RITZ CARLTON is not right behind me!!!” LOL Good times…

5:15pm: We get to Dallas BBQ LATE! I meet Lisa, Laura, Renee, Shirphie and Christian!!! I’m all calm on the outside, but inside I’m going. “SQUEEEEEEEE!”… hahaha.

Lisa orders the Texas-sized strawberry daiquiri… but I decline. I haven’t even been eating solid food for more than a couple of days, so I know if I drink I’ll be too hazy to really enjoy the play. Others do, and I have to remind myself that a drunk, sick Melissa would be a really bad idea. Even the smell of the rum makes me feel a little lightheaded... or is it meeting everyone, being in NYC, and getting ready to see Van?? Hmmm…

Dinner is ordered, and while I SO want BBQ, I don’t dare. Steamed veggies for Melissa. Gritty, steamed veggies. Oh well. It could be Alpo, and I wouldn’t care… I am so interested to meet everyone, find out what they do, what they like. It’s like the best first date ever!

We divide up the check… and Lisa ends up with WAY more money than necessary to pay the bill. We enjoy a few moments of hilarity as she waves the money around, trying to give it away!

I’m giving up on keeping track of times for a while…

We meet Josh! Yay! He’s newer than me, even! I’m so happy to not be the newest Vanfan! We walk to New World Stages. I’m just buzzing with giddiness and raging nervousness. I haven’t been nervous this whole time, but now I’m about to wet my pants. The Vanmark Starbucks is mentioned, and I do a mental bow to the shrine as we pass. I realize I still have some pretzel in my coat pocket, and am shaking too bad to pull it all out to throw it away. I manage to get most of it out, though. Luckily there is a trash bin every three feet…

By the time we get to New World Stages, I’m completely freaked out. I’m trying to remain calm, but inside… wow! I just about burst into tears when the group decides to give ME the extra front row ticket! How much more perfect could this day get!!! There’s some back and forth, but hey, I’m SO not turning that down! We go downstairs.

I’m just bouncing off my own brain at this point. I know Christian is talking to me, and I’m answering… but little fangirl, who has been remarkably quiet this entire day, is screaming “OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!” over and over so loudly, I can barely hear him. Somehow, I manage to rein her in.

As we take our seats, Christian tells me that Van will most likely not come out after the show tonight because of the cast party. I’m actually not devastated, because the day has been perfect so far, and I haven’t even seen the play! (I still hope he does, though!) While we wait for things to get started, Christian and I talk. I find myself amazed again at just how genuinely nice everyone is!

The guys that sit on the other side of me are too adorable. We are so close together that every time they move, they bump me. The first time, they apologize, but I assure them that no apologies are needed. They have their arms around each other and are laughing and I can tell they are here for the ride, just like me!

I have a moment of pure, white-hot stabbing jealousy when the guy on the far side squeezes his bf and rubs his arm, and of course mine, as well, since we are actually touching. I can actually feel the love these two have pouring off each other, and I realize in that instant that I have never had that in a relationship. And even if I did have someone, could I share this moment, this experience with them? Luckily, just then the lights dim, and the play begins.

How can I describe the most amazing 90 minutes of entertainment in history? I can’t. So I’ll give just a few highlights:

Angela’s entrance: Wow!! He totally plays to the audience FOREVER! And we’re giving it right back. I knew this would be great, but the energy is nuclear!

Tony Parker: LOVE the pants! OMG! Could they be any tighter!!

Edie: She is awesome!! I love her expressions and inflections.

Bootsie: ROFLMAO!! Love her!

Sol: The suppository scene. I’m screaming with laughter and tears! Whoa…

I can tell that everyone has really ramped it up for tonight. Everyone on stage is enjoying this just about as much as the rest of us.

Too many good scenes. Oh yeah, and there’s this other guy…

VAN!!!! Holy shit, is he HOTTT!!! That fringe jacket, those JEANS. The HAIR! Too much Van, need oxygen!! The whole lamp scene, the looks on his face… I’m dying. Literally. I can’t breath, I’m laughing and screaming and crying. I totally lose it. (This, after promising Christian I won’t embarrass him… Oh well. Sorry…)

I scare myself at one point. I’m so caught up, that when Sol knocks Lance onto the rug, (which as George points out later is 17 inches away from me!) I gasp. But gasp isn’t the right word. !!GASP/SHREAK!! Complete with hands over face and nearly rising to feet- yeah, that kind of gasp.

As Van hits the ground, I’m half-way out of my seat. He is eye-level with me. He’s probably praying I don’t come up there after him, because I’m sure that’s what it looks like I’m about to do. Luckily, I’m so wedged in between Christian and the boys, and everyone else is laughing at this point, that I catch myself and nearly hemorrhage with a combination of embarrassment and relief and overall hysteria.

Somehow, I survive the rest of the play. I don’t think I take a full breath the entire 90 minutes. By the end, I’m past laughter and into howling. My voice is going, and I’m actually shaking uncontrollably.

Can I just mention the white pants, and thank you all again so much for the front row seat???? Oh, I will never be able to repay you guys for the visions of joy that will warm my poor heart in the days to come…

The image of Van sitting on the corner of that chair, in those shorts, (which are rolled up even further than in the video excerpts on the DMD site), with his legs spread wide open…with me right there, (not eye-level this time, but even better). I will cherish this moment for always….

The standing ovation goes on forever! I’m right in front of Charles, and I swear I see tears in his eyes!! I’m crying, because I don’t want this to end!!! But I manage to compose myself, a bit, before we leave for the lobby. I’m so drunk on emotion, I want to hug the guys next to me, but I don’t.

In the lobby, we are all having a good time, laughing. I don’t even care that I miss seeing Sarah Jessica Parker. I refuse to put my coat on, because I just KNOW that this day will not end before I get to meet Van. Especially after we bonded when he was laid out on the rug… LOL

I can see Van, here and there, when the doors open. VAN!!!!!! When he comes out, I die. But little fangirl is ready, and takes over so smoothly, no one notices. He must be dead tired, and I know he gave us so much more than 100% tonight!! But he tells us that he wanted to come out to see us! GUH!!! How sweet is that!! He spends a LOT of time with us. I notice that the Henry Davis t-shirt looks paint spattered. I get a mental image of Van redecorating our apartment… I suppress it and die again.

He is so unassuming! When we’re all gushing about HD, he shrugs it off and tells us to watch Sherri Davis, because SHE’S brilliant. Oh, Van…. Of course, I feel the need to tell him I’ve watched them all… where the heck did this come from? Must curb obnoxious glory hound in future.

When he’s signing my playbill, and asks how to spell my name. I forget. No, seriously. I can’t tell him. I manage something like “One L, two S’s”… wow. My favorite part, though, is when someone mentions that I’ve only been watching ATWT for a week. He totally stops writing, looks up at me and his eyebrows hit his hairline.

I’m in love with whoever made Van do that, cuz I LOVE his facial expressions, and that one is priceless! “A week? How did you start watching?” Luckily, I revive at that moment, because little fangirl actually dies. I tell him I found the Kiss on youtube. He asks, “And just what were you looking for to find THAT?” He actually leers… and I don’t die!! I WINK. Good Lord, I wink at him and say that I’m not telling. He shakes his head, laughs and finishes signing my playbill. Wow. I would say that is the best part of the night, except the best part is wrapping my arm completely around him for the picture. I knew my freakishly long arms would come in handy someday. MMMMM…

Sorry, went to a very happy place for a minute. Oh, yeah, recap.

Highlights of meeting Van:

Josh translating, complete with touching, Van’s HD t-shirt. Josh, you are my hero!!

Van pretend-typing “Bianca’s back!”

Van doing an aaww shucks pose and saying “That’s why you should watch CBS soaps”.

Van telling us his line “Better be longer than Henry and Vienna’s”.

Van imitating himself inhaling Jammi’s cinnamon bread.

Van remembering George. Van’s whole face lights up with “AVENGERS!” It’s priceless, and I have proof!!

Van waving good-bye! AWW… so cute!!

And of course: that super hot moment when I look up from the camera, and Van looks at me. Oh yeah, I totally snap that pic. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I hear it. Wow. THAT is the pic I’m getting signed, for sure!!!

My only complaint is that little fangirl neglected to get permission to video Van. Grrr. Yeah... I totally blame her!!! So I’m still awaiting permission to post.

Sigh… we are just about ready to leave, floating on a cloud of group happiness and well-being, when the door opens again. CHARLES!! He tells us he wanted to come out to meet “Van’s friends”… I think we all die simultaneously. I can hear everyone “squee” in their minds…don’t even try to deny it!!!

So we all sort of mob the door, and get pics with and autographs from Charles. He tells us about his next performance in June. I make a mental note to try to go, because after tonight, I am most definitely a Charles Busch fan!!

When we finally leave New World Stages, it’s raining. I don’t care. Poor Renee tries to hold the umbrella for me, but I keep wandering out from under it. I’m trying to talk, make conversation, but I’m just absolutely overwhelmed. I realize this is the best day of my life, ever.

As we walk back and disperse, I’m thinking that if I wasn’t obsessed before, I am truly now! We say our good-byes, and I’m trying not to cry. God, I’ve never cried, or nearly cried, so much and for so many different reasons in one day. I think it’s safe to say that shy, aloof Melissa is gone. May not come back….

Back at the bus station, George handles the business of changing tickets, etc. I’m too far gone to really function. I just sort of follow him around…. Hehehe. Once on the bus, I get the “shhhh” because I’m talking too much and too loud. I don’t even notice, but George tells me. Ooops! We watch the videos, look at the pictures and just bask in the Van after-glow. The weather is getting really bad, and apparently a car spins out and hits the guardrail in the oncoming lane, but I miss it.

We talk, and doze, and talk some more on the way back to Boston. As George leaves, I realize the day is really over!

I spend an interesting night talking to people, writing, taking notes, etc. It’s not the first time I’ve spent the night in a bus terminal, and South Station is MUCH nicer than Cleveland! The bus back to NH is delayed in the am, but I finally leave Boston about 10:30. The trip back to NH takes twice as long as usual, and I get home about 2:30. I can’t sleep, so I just write some more, hit the boards and eventually go to bed.

I just want to say to anyone still on the fence about April… it is SO worth it to meet not only Van (and Jake), but everyone here as well!! If there is any way to make it happen, do it!!!