This encounter is from Michelle and Kim from Hansonology.
Thanx for letting me use your story!

Dreams Really Do Come True

Yes dreams do come true...at least if your in the MOE. July 29th, 1998.

Our day started with a trip to the Motown Museum.
Of course we touched each seat in the little video viewing room...just so we wouldn't miss the one they sat in when they were there the last time they were in Detroit.
While we were there we saw Michael Jackson's hat and glove and an old 45 of "Money."
Very cool place to go!!!

Then we thought hey...there's the bridge to Canada, let's go over it!!!
We did so we spent a bit of our day in another country.
Of course we were practically accused of being kidnappers and Kim was forced to show a picture of Caitlin to the customs officer.
What a mom, it was only about 4 years old...think it is time to update the photo album.

Off to the venue.
The Palace of Auburn Hills was ours for the taking...
if we could have gotten past that tricky security guard who kept catching us as we snuck in.
Eventually we parked in employee only parking and found steps into the venue.
Walked around for a bit...
gave up on that and went to the gas station across the road...
met some really cool fans and passed the time waiting to go in to the Palace.

We are in!!!!!!! The blue buses were there...
and Zac was walking to one of them...got it on film (We hope).
We heard our names being mentioned by someone and looked to the side of us to see Sharon and company.
We had met her at the Pine Knob performance in June.
It was great to see her again.

At last...the doors opened and Michelle picked up her ticket.
We chatted for a while and then decided to head for our separate seats.
And this is when it happened...

Michelle saw the man with the passes to heaven.
She flashed her Moe with shaking hands...and nabbed herself a BACKSTAGE PASS.
Her very next words...when she was able to speak again were, "My sister is here can she go too?"
As luck would have it there was one left...Kim was in too!!!!!!
(BTW...My sister is the best...as if I didn't have enough reasons to love her she added another one...Kim).
Michelle came running for me...which she might add was across the building.
We rushed over to the small group of 10 people (Five adults and five teenagers...one of the adults was our friend Sharon) to patiently wait.
While we waited we talked with Admiral Twin, Ashley Greyson, and a close friend of the family.
The friend mentioned how he helps take care of the family and how much he loves that Zoe.
John from AT also told us that Taylor had just spit chocolate cake on him backstage.

We began the long journey towards the light. We were escorted into a room with a black curtain in front of us.
They were just finishing up a radio interview while we waited. Then it was our turn.
We entered the curtain to the words of Zac..."It's time to do the MOE."

We did the ceremonial handshakes and greetings. Nice to meet you...Hi...I am waiting...and so on.
Then it was time to have our picture taken for the next issue of MOE.
Michelle stood by Isaac...who had his arm around her.
Kim was by Taylor (actually she is dead center in the back row in the picture)...and at one point he had his arm around her...
but she lost it in the shuffle to get the whole group in the picture.

Then we chatted. We talked about MOE...and if we liked it better than the first...and who wrote what.

Conversation pieces

Kim..."Zac would you please sign this for me"...holding a cover to her worn out MON cassette (Yes I actually wore out a copy already...Kim)

Zac...Teasing her and saying "No."

Kim...whining..."Please...I will get down on my knees and beg."

Taylor..."I would like to see that"...to a very embarrased Kim.

Michelle..."Zac you are almost as tall as me."

Zac..."I am if I stand on the couch"...as he leaps across the room and kicks Kim accidentally on the hip with his Red Doc.

Kim..."Ouch..you kicked me"...as he uses her shoulders as a support.

Zac..."Ooops sorry"...as he reaches out towards her to make sure she is okay....she was, and thrilled to have been kicked by him.

Michelle...to Ike while looking at the MOE and talking about his designs..."So you designed the tour logo?"

Isaac...fumbles through magazine to find it...and shyly says..."I did that on the computer."

Kim...To Zac..."you aren't going to kick me again are you?"...as he grabs her shoulders and does four karate like moves at her...she tries not to wince or move....while laughing at the same time.

Michelle...to Isaac..."we are sisters"...pointing to Kim.

Isaac..."That's cool."

Kim...To Zac..."My daughter just thinks your terrific."

Zac..."Where is she?"

Kim..."Oh they wouldn't let her come with me...She is not the member of MOE...I am."

Taylor..."So it's your name on the application?"

Kim...blushing..."Yes."

Isaac..."Did you see Hansonline's new front page?"

Michelle..."No" quietly said.

Kim..."Ummm..no I haven't been there in the last two days" said a bit sheepishly.

Isaac..."We put a new background on but it is pretty much the same."

***A note from Kim***
So much more was said but it is so hard to remember everything. Michelle basically stuck by Isaac's side and talked to him.
I played with Zac...because Taylor was usually talking to the others except for the occasional guestion my way when I was talking to Zac.
Zac really is the sunshine boy..his energy and smiling just lit up that room.
I basically just hung around him...he was so much fun. Once he even flew across the room at Isaac to grab him.
I got their autographs...even though we had been told they would not be doing that.
We also both got guitar pics and John Russell's (AT)autograph and Ashleys Greyson's autograph.
My interactions with Taylor were when I first shook his hand (which was gentle at first then firm at the end)...
and when he put his arm around me (I was just in the right place at the right time)and pulled me closer to him for the picture...
only to let go when he was organizing everyone for the picture...and I didn't get it back.
I did speak with Isaac just a bit...not much.
I was too busy playing with Zac...who seemed to be pretty much ignored except by me. It felt like we had been with them for hours but in all actuality it was about 15 minutes.
Fifteen minutes of sheer bliss!!!!!!

**note from Michelle**

Being able to go backstage was such an honor for me.
It was one of those things you hope for, but never really think it will happen.
I was nervous while I waited to go back, trying to think of all of the things I wanted to say. Things like...
Your music has been such an inspiration to me....
I love the closeness of your family....
How are you holding up during the tour?....
Thank you...and so many other things were rushing through my head!
When we finally began the walk through what seemed to be a big white brick basement I was suddenly calm.
I can't fully explain the feeling that came over me!
We did the meet and greet as mentioned and then the picture and finally just talked. Talked with Hanson!
A lot about the work that goes into MOE. Which, thinking back now seems very appropriate since that is what got us back there!
I can't stress how completely right it felt to be standing there with them!
Again, it is hard to explain, but it was so comfortable. They are very gracious hosts!

We both felt totally comfortable and relaxed while we were with them...it was like talking to old friends we had known our whole life.
They are exactly who they are...very warm, friendly, inviting, nice guys.

We thank God for this experience...it was truly a blessing from above.