Well this is the story, thats me and her, sorry its all nasty!!
Heres some background: The first ever US National Team game I watched on TV was in May, and I believe it was against Canada. Well the first player I saw was #6 CHASTAIN. I thought she was so pretty, then she got hit with the ball on her nose and had to get it band-aided up. She was my favorite player. Then at half time they did a highlight on Mia Hamm and I was like oh shes cool, I like her the best. So I always say Mia and Julie Foudy, they're my favorite, but I always think of Brandi Chastain as one of those favorites in the back of my head.
On Friday, September the 3rd, I was home from school for the four day weekend for Labor Day. My mom has a fetish for this soap opera called "Days Of Our Lives". Anyway, there was a comercial for this store called Gallery Furniture. And I mean this is the STORE! It's a furniture store, but GAWD it has EVERYTHING! There's even a bowling alley in the place! They always have like athletes from Houston come and have a signing, but this time was different. My mom called me out to the room she was in and asked, "Amy, have you heard of someone named Brandi Chastain. I know I have, but i can't place the name." And I was like "Yeah, she's on the National soccer team." My mom goes, "Do you want to go to Gallery Furniture and meet her?" Then I screamed, "When? Now? Let's go!" My mom goes, "I don't know when, get me the phone book and I'll call." I ran so fast to the garage and looked the number up. She called and they told her that it would be on Sunday (the 5th) from 7-9 pm. That was the slowest weekend of my life!
So it got to Sunday and I woke up at 8:45 am. (I had a dream that night about meeting her!) So we went to church and that went by all to slow for me, so as soon as it was over we got home, changed clothes and headed for the store. We got there around 5:00 and met two other people, one guy got there right after us, and one guy was there since 1:00 pm! So we were ushered outside in a line (I was #2!), and waited for 2 hours. A lady updated us and said around 6 that Brandi had been picked up from the airport! Then about 10 minutes before 7 the lady told us, sorry only one autograph per person! So then we were all looking in the parking lot to see if she arrived, and I was Ms. Smart ad watched the place where she was going to sit, I turned my head for a second to tell my mom something and looked up and there she was sitting at the table where she would sign autographs. I was like, "She's here!" and everyone in line near me looked. Then they started ushering us in. (OK here's the descrption of Brandi. She had on a Blue 3/4 length sweater like shirt, and i think black pants. She was so tiny, so different from on the magazines and TV. It's hard to explain.) The lady that was updating us grabbed me by the arm after the guy in from of me was done, and practically dragged me up there.
I was so scared it wasn't a long walk but Brandi just like looked into my eyes and I was just so scared.
Well I stood beside her and my mom took a picture of us together. Then she asked me, "What's your name?" (She was looking at me the whole time) I could barely talk. "Amy" I whispered, then she proceded to sign my Sports Illustrated Magazine, that she is on the cover of. Then she asked, "Do you play soccer here in Houston?" (Looking right at me again). And I was about to cry by this point (I know that sounds so retarded, but this was like the first time I had ever met someone, that actually cared to look and talk to me, and someone that was famous at that!) I nodded my head and she handed me my book and the lady ushered me away. I saw her for maybe 3 minutes, but I will NEVER forget it as long as I live.
You can buy their autographs off eBay, and Eurosport and stuff like that, but there is no way that those will ever measure up against meeting them in person and having them talk and look at you, theres just no way.
