Me and my friends were in the beer gardens. It was VERY crowded and hot. I noticed a medic tent to the left of the stage and walked over to see if they had any water. They pointed to a cooler behind the tent and said to help myself.
I am standing there and just happened to look up and see Joe Elliott standing less than 5 feet from the other side of the chain link fence! Then Rick walked up and saw me looking at them (there was NO ONE around on my side of the fence...it was like a dream!) Rick looked at me and said, "Hi! Are you having a good time?"
I totally FREAKED inside, but stayed calm outside. I said "Yes, but it will be even better when I get to see you play." He asked me if I have been a fan for long, and I told him I started listening when I was 13 and that he has always been my favorite member. He was SO NICE and asked me my name and seemed genuinely interested...not stuck up AT ALL! Next think I know everyone but Phil was sitting there. (I later realized it was right by their trailer.)
They said hi and were all very friendly. We talked about how beautiful Portland is...some stuff about the weather, etc. I was so FREAKED that I finished my water and walked away...AND I FORGOT TO ASK FOR THEIR AUTOGRAPH!!!!! I will kick myself about that FOREVER!!! A friend of my husband was a roadie for them and my husband was wearing their crew shirt...I'm sure if I would have asked them to sign it they would have...ALL OF THEM! That is a moment I will never get back!!! UGH!
Luckily my husband happened to come looking for me because I had been gone for a while and saw me talking to them, or I don't think anyone would have believed me!
I dreamed my whole teenage life of meeting him, secretly knowing it would never happen...them being from England and all...but it did! And he was even nicer and cuter than I expected !!!!"
