RENEE
Met Ray at FX 2005 (Florida Extravaganza)
Orlando, Florida, January 29-30, 2005
Thanks a bunch Renee!! And Congrats on your recent accomplishments!! You've
inspired me to get back on track with my own endeavors as well! Keep it up!! :D
Met Ray at FX 2005 (Florida Extravaganza)
Orlando, Florida, January 29-30, 2005
Thanks a bunch Renee!! And Congrats on your recent accomplishments!! You've
inspired me to get back on track with my own endeavors as well! Keep it up!! :D
One fine day in early December, I went to Jen's website to email her and ask if Ray ever came to Florida, since it seemed
that most of his U.S. appearances were in California, Texas or anywhere BUT Florida (4 little hurricanes and nobody wants
to visit anymore). Imagine my happy surprise when I learned that he was going to be practically in my own backyard! I was
very excited, and off and on over the following weeks, I tried to figure out what I would say to him when I met him. Mostly I
prayed I wouldn't walk up and babble at him.
A teeny bit of personal history first. I have been painfully shy most of my life. It's only been fairly recently when I've lost a
good bit of weight and am taking much better care of myself physically and in general, that I have begun to come out of
my shell. I wore BOLD red on the Saturday that I met Ray, but the color was much bolder than I felt that day. The fact
that I even went to the expo was a huge personal victory for me.
But, back to the good stuff. The big day arrived, and while I waited in the mile-long line to meet him, I was going over and
over in my head what I was going to say. Ideally, I wanted to ask Ray something he probably hadn't been asked before, or
at least not very often. I was afraid to ask about the status of Iron Fist (although I would like to know when it will be made),
since that seems to be so on again and off again. I knew he was a new daddy, so I thought I could ask him how he was
enjoying fatherhood, but then that reminded me of my own father, who, as it turns out, died 7 years to the day on Jan. 29.
That unhappy memory upset me enough that I tossed out that question, but then suddenly it was my turn, and there was
Ray Park holding his hand out to shake mine, and I had nothing in mind to say or ask him.
The good news is that I did not babble at him, but I did seem to lose my ability to speak at all at first, and I was so
embarrassed, I could barely look at him. Some part of my brain eventually functioned, however, and I managed to answer
his question about how I spelled my name and somehow remembered to ask for a picture with him, as well. Go me!
The way the autograph tables were set up wasn't exactly conducive to taking pictures with the celebrities, unless both
parties wanted to hop on or over the table (which Ray did on Sunday). He met me halfway on Saturday, but the picture
really didn't come out well at all, which makes me very happy that I made myself go back and ask for another picture with
him on Sunday.
Sunday went a little more smoothly, although I was still very nervous, and when it was my turn to meet him, I tried to
explain why I had flaked out the day before. He reassured me and said, "Oh, that's okay," and very sweetly accommodated
my request for another picture. Since I had gotten an autographed Darth Maul picture on Saturday, I had planned to ask
for an autographed picture of Toad on Sunday, but didn't see any there and figured he had run out. Maybe next time
unless I forget how to speak again. This just kills me. I really am intelligent and articulate, but dang if it all didn't just go
out the window when I met Ray.
For anyone who may be wondering, Ray really is very good with his fans. He had a ton of energy, and a great big smile for
everyone, and he really seemed to enjoy meeting and talking with them. He probably had his picture taken more on
Saturday alone than most of us will in our entire lives. I can't even imagine how many autographs he signed over the
course of that weekend. I wish I could have gotten more pictures for Jen, but I didn't want Ray to feel like I was stalking
him, so I'm afraid we'll have to make do with this one. Hopefully I will get to meet him again sometime and have an actual
conversation with him. Imagine!
Peace for your day,
Renee
that most of his U.S. appearances were in California, Texas or anywhere BUT Florida (4 little hurricanes and nobody wants
to visit anymore). Imagine my happy surprise when I learned that he was going to be practically in my own backyard! I was
very excited, and off and on over the following weeks, I tried to figure out what I would say to him when I met him. Mostly I
prayed I wouldn't walk up and babble at him.
A teeny bit of personal history first. I have been painfully shy most of my life. It's only been fairly recently when I've lost a
good bit of weight and am taking much better care of myself physically and in general, that I have begun to come out of
my shell. I wore BOLD red on the Saturday that I met Ray, but the color was much bolder than I felt that day. The fact
that I even went to the expo was a huge personal victory for me.
But, back to the good stuff. The big day arrived, and while I waited in the mile-long line to meet him, I was going over and
over in my head what I was going to say. Ideally, I wanted to ask Ray something he probably hadn't been asked before, or
at least not very often. I was afraid to ask about the status of Iron Fist (although I would like to know when it will be made),
since that seems to be so on again and off again. I knew he was a new daddy, so I thought I could ask him how he was
enjoying fatherhood, but then that reminded me of my own father, who, as it turns out, died 7 years to the day on Jan. 29.
That unhappy memory upset me enough that I tossed out that question, but then suddenly it was my turn, and there was
Ray Park holding his hand out to shake mine, and I had nothing in mind to say or ask him.
The good news is that I did not babble at him, but I did seem to lose my ability to speak at all at first, and I was so
embarrassed, I could barely look at him. Some part of my brain eventually functioned, however, and I managed to answer
his question about how I spelled my name and somehow remembered to ask for a picture with him, as well. Go me!
The way the autograph tables were set up wasn't exactly conducive to taking pictures with the celebrities, unless both
parties wanted to hop on or over the table (which Ray did on Sunday). He met me halfway on Saturday, but the picture
really didn't come out well at all, which makes me very happy that I made myself go back and ask for another picture with
him on Sunday.
Sunday went a little more smoothly, although I was still very nervous, and when it was my turn to meet him, I tried to
explain why I had flaked out the day before. He reassured me and said, "Oh, that's okay," and very sweetly accommodated
my request for another picture. Since I had gotten an autographed Darth Maul picture on Saturday, I had planned to ask
for an autographed picture of Toad on Sunday, but didn't see any there and figured he had run out. Maybe next time
unless I forget how to speak again. This just kills me. I really am intelligent and articulate, but dang if it all didn't just go
out the window when I met Ray.
For anyone who may be wondering, Ray really is very good with his fans. He had a ton of energy, and a great big smile for
everyone, and he really seemed to enjoy meeting and talking with them. He probably had his picture taken more on
Saturday alone than most of us will in our entire lives. I can't even imagine how many autographs he signed over the
course of that weekend. I wish I could have gotten more pictures for Jen, but I didn't want Ray to feel like I was stalking
him, so I'm afraid we'll have to make do with this one. Hopefully I will get to meet him again sometime and have an actual
conversation with him. Imagine!
Peace for your day,
Renee
