May 18, 2002 - Animazing Gallery; New York City

I've met the man, Batman himself, Kevin Conroy, and you were right: it's an experience that I'll always treasure. Right about now my senses are packed to the max with pure bliss!

The event started around 2:05, and he was seated on the second level balcony of the gallery. Believe it or not, I was the first one to spot him because there were two ladies that went up to the balcony to have their stuff signed, and he posed for a pic with them at the edge of the stairs. When I saw him, I knew it had to be him. He was so handsome! He was wearing a green turtleneck and jeans, how casual can you be? One of the gallery owners introduced him by asking him (playing Batman) questions via microphone, and he anwered in that all too familiar "I am vengance, I am the knight, I am Batman." More questions were asked pertaining to Batman, and then he came down the stairs. It was like a scene from a fairy tale.

People who had purchased gallery items got their stuff signed first, and then the others who didn't purchase gallery items (like me) came next. When my turn came, he asked my name. I then asked him if he was aware if there was a website dedicated to him, and I handed him a card with the address to the website and your e-mail. I told him that you and I were very good friends and that whenever he had the time he should check out the website. He had with him pictures of himself and copies of a Batman cel to sign for the fans. He asked me who to make it out to. I asked him to make the first one out to Michael (the webmaster). He wrote the following: "To Michael, Thanks for your efforts on the website - Kevin Conroy." The one that he addressed to me is the one with his pic.

It was funny that when he asked my name, he spelled it correctly like he knew it. I asked how he knew how to spell my name. He asked if I was Thai and said that he remembered that I had wrote a letter to him some while ago. I also asked him to e-mail you when he saw the website. I hope he does, because when he read your e-mail address, he said something like, "I hope I can do this," meaning that (I think) he's not familiar with using the web. But the gallery lady said, "Of course you can." I hope that he does, and I have faith that he will.

He was especially wonderful with the kids that came. Some didn't know him; all they knew was that he did Batman's voice, and so these kids were rather befuddled. But when he broke into Batman's voice, the faces on the kids turned to smiles. He's such a wonderful person, and he even expressed that he appreciates his fans a great deal and that meeting them in an event like this is something that he is familiar with because he's got theatre training.

After he signed everyone's items, the hype died down, some went home, some just hung around. Kevin Conroy got up from behind the desk, walked around, and snacked on some of the food that the gallery treated to the guests. I approached him, being carefull not to trip or make a fool of myself. I said, "Excuse me, can I ask you another question?" He said, "Yes," and I asked him if he was going to do any Broadway plays here in NYC in the future, and he said he might and that he would love to.

The most strangest, blissful moment happened next. I asked him what he does when he's in NYC and before I knew it, we were engaged in an conversation, just the two of us. We talked about both of us being from NYC, and then I said it was sort of a curse to come from NYC because no matter where you go, you always come back to NYC. (It's a given fact: when you are born here, you're stuck for life!) And Kevin Conroy said, "It's sort of a good curse to come from NYC." We then talked about Juilliard a bit, and then about the arts. I told him that I was an art history major, and Kevin said, "Its good for the soul."

Next he recalled that when he was younger, he used to visit the Frick (which is a museum on Fifth Avenue) and the Museum of Modern Art. I then informed him that MOMA was moving from its original location. He was rather surprised, and I told him the reason why was because the museum needed to build more space, and the new location would give then time to build more room. He's a real New Yorker. He knew exactly where each of the musuems were.

I also couldn't stop staring at his beautiful blue eyes! He's one of the most intelligent, sweetest, kindest, well-cultured and well-rounded person I've ever met. I just wanted this moment to last forever and talk to him more about what he thinks of NYC after 9/11. He truly loves New York and said that he tries to come back as often as he can, but I never got to ask him because he was interrupted by one of the gallery people to sign another cel.

Afterward I stayed longer, hung around, and just kept on catching glimpses of him. I couldn't stay until closing because it was getting late and extremely cold, and I had two major finals to study for. When I had to leave, I thanked him for a great time and shook his hand good-bye, and that's how the day ended.

Kevin Conroy is one of the sweetest people I've ever met.