On Tuesday, September 13th, I met my hero, Jackie Chan. It all started on about August 30th, when I got an e-mail from the president of the Jackie Chan fan club, USA. Joy told me that I was chosen to be one of 12 members to meet Jackie Chan at a book tour in Rockford IL, he was promoting his book. When I heard about the news I screamed and jumped up and down and ran out to tell my dad and called my friends about. I was SO excited, it had been my dream for a very long time. So, along came Saturday, September 12th. I got up at 10 o'clock, and packed my Chan clothes, I brought 2 books that I had gotten from Target. His book was "I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action". I also brought 3 other biographies on Jackie, and tons of magazines. If you don't have his autobiography, get it NOW! Anyway, we got out on the road at about 11. We had a four hour drive ahead of us (My dad and I) we would stay at my grandparents' house that night. When I woke up the next morning, the BIG day, I jumped out of bed. It was 7:30 a.m. I packed my things into the car again. I was sure to be VERY careful with the books. The drive to Rockford was 1 and a half hours, but it seemed like 20. My Dad would ask me about Chan's films, he likes him too. It was like trivia, he'd say "What was the movie with the snow" I'd say First Strike. It was pretty easy for me, once you watch his movies 800 times each like me you basically memorize them. So, my dad really got me anxious, he'd say "8 more blocks!" I was biting my fingernails and tapping my feet. I still couldn't believe I was going to MEET Jackie Chan! We finally got to Media Play and I ran to get a spot in line. It was 10 o'clock, 1 hour before the store even opened, but there was already 80 people there. It was funny to see the little kids that like Jackie only because he can do fancy kicks and beat people up say "Jackie Chon Jackie Chon!!! Mommy where's Jackie Chang!" The age ranges were 2 to 82, really. The line got VERY VERY long, in the end when the store opened it was 500 people long. The people that thought JC wasn't popular got there when the store opened! They didn't get there books I'm sure. Anyway, I ended up getting a card saying 87, that's my number to see Jackie. 87 is my new lucky number. My dad was 88. So, when I got into the store I bought "Magnificent Bodyguards" the subtitles on them are readable, but cut off. I also got yet another book from the store, that's number 3. I saw some of my internet friends there, who gave me a "Jackie Chan Mailing List" tag. My Dad and I went to the resturaunt "Cheddars" across the street where the fan club members were supposed to meet at 1 o'clock, it was 12 then. I didn't eat much, I was too nervous! When I was done eating I went to the front of the resturaunt. A man approached me, and asked if I was a fan member. He didn't really have to ask, I was wearing my fan club shirt and hat. He told me his name, Tom, and he told me about his expirience in Chicago the day before. His expirience sounded so cool and I was getting REALLY nervous!!! He told me to tell him if I saw Joy, the president, and I said I would. When my dad came we went back to Media Play, and some list and fan members told me to find Joy and get a fan club pin. I saw my other net friend, Adam, who sounded real nice, and told me he saw Willie Chan. I said "Willie Chan?!" I really wanted to go see him, but Joy saw me and talked to me and gave me my pin. She told everyone to stay there. But I told her I saw another fan club member at Cheddars, so she told me to get him. I did, and we went to get Tom, my camera, and my 3 books, and a picture of Ken Lo that I was determined to get him to sign. We went to meet Joy again, and went inside the hall of Media Play. It was so hot in there, and I felt like I was going to faint, my heart was pounding so hard. We went back outside and everyone chatted, except me, I paced around, running into people. I was SOOO nervous! Finally, Joy called us back in the store 10 minutes later. I tried out my camera on a TV news truck that had arrived, and I went with the other members. OK, here's when my heart almost jumped out of my chest. We all walked in line to the back of the store, behind those double doors was who else? Jackie! I was last in line, and I couldn't walk straight. I ran through the doors in front of Joy and jumped up and down trying to see Jackie. The women were fanning themselves giggling, probably just as nervous as I was. Jackie looks just like he does in the movies, but you know what? He is shy! At least at that signing, he doesn't seem shy on TV or movies, but he really didn't say much at the meeting. He was looking down signing books.
One lady took my book and handed it tooooooo- Ken Lo! Ken Lo gave it tooooo- Jackie! I was staring at Jackie with admiration. I snapped out of it when the lady gave me my book, I put it in my bag. I suddenly realized I didn't have any pictures! So I started to take them. About 3 or 4 of him signing. I was 3 feet away from him and Ken Lo!!! I saw some people taking pictures with Willie Chan so I came up to him, and Tom took my picture with him. It took him a couple seconds to get the camera to work, and he finally got it. Willie was so kind, he put his arm around me and waited for him to take the picture. When it was done I thank him and shook his hand.
I then picked up my folder with Ken Lo's picture with him. I walked up, and walked back, opened my mouth and closed it. I was So nervous. Ken looked behind his shoulder and saw the un-sure look on my face. I decided he was too busy so I took more pictures. For a couple minutes I couldn't figure out why the camera was out of focuse. I paniked, but then realized that it was automatic focus. I took 1 or 2 pictures, and then a lady told us to line up by a wall and put our cameras on a cabinet. Judi, my internet friend, and I realized that we didn't have our cameras turned on! We ran over to turn them on and got back in the group. Then Jackie came with a huge smile on his face. He was hopping over to us like a little boy. We all said "Hi Jackie!" and he said hi and sat behind Mary. I was hoping he'd sit by me! I was in the FRONT so I was farthest away. I hate being the smallest! Anyway, I searched my eyes for my camera. I then got a taste of what a movie star feels like. Flashes came from all over. Ken Lo, one lady, and Willie Chan took the pictures. So, when the pictures were finished Jackie shook everyone's hand and thanked everyone, then he went back to signing. I went over to Ken Lo, and showed him the picture I wanted him to sign. When I gave it to him he said "Cool" and he signed it. When he gave it to me I got a picture of him, he even smiled for me. He's a great guy, so are Jackie and Willie.
So after that the meeting was over, I was so sad and it went by so fast. But the day wasn't over. I went to look for my dad, and then Jackie came out. The entire store roared with applause. I didn't see him, cause I'M THE SMALLEST!!!!! Grrrr! I felt like standing on someones head. I found my dad. I got in line where I was supposed to be. People were taking pictures even though they weren't supposed to. They were also standing on the shelves and breaking them. It was a riot! I finnaly was next in line to get my other book signed. My dad had one for him to sign too. I had just put on my Fan club hat. I was looking in admiration at Jackie signing my book. My dad later told me that when Ken Lo saw me with all my Jackie Chan stuff, shirt, hat, and 2 pins, Ken smiled. The really cool thing was that Jackie looked up when he was signing at my shirt, he smiled and kept writing. When he finished signing he looked up at me and flashed a big smile, and shook my hand. I thanked him, and he thanked me. My body shaking, I took one last look at Jackie Chan, and walked down the ailse. That was the most amazing expirience of my life. The only thing I didn't like about it was that we didn't have time to get individual pictures with jackie. But it was good enough for me. You know what I got the next day in the mail? Another book signed by Jackie! That's 4 books! If Jackie ever gets the chance to read it, which he probably won't, I'd like to tell him I'm sorry for putting him through so much trouble! I just wish I could do it again. That was the best day of my life and I'll never forget it.
