Soap Opera Digest Mall Tour 2000
Seattle, WA, USA
Sept. 9, 2000
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS!
My Second Encounter With David Tom
By Heather
JUST A WARNING TO START YOU OFF, THIS IS A BIT LONG. I tried to write things down on Sunday morning at 4am Pacific daylight time. With no sleep for a few days I may tend to ramble. I'll try and edit as I go.
WHAT A WEEKEND!!! Blink once and it is half over. Blink again and you are left to wonder. . .did I really do that or did I dream it all?
I am HAPPY to report, it was NOT a dream! I spent my weekend doing something totally out of character for me, believe me!
As some of you may know, the Behind the scenes with Soap Opera Digest, mall 2000 tour is under way. It started out in Seattle Washington on Sept 9, 2000. The first appearing were the Emmy Award wining brother and sister, David and Heather Tom.
When I got to the spot of the appearance, I was a bit surprised to not only find seats for the event, but as I arrived about 1/2 hour before the event I actually got a seat. I found out later I could have gotten even closer :(. Up here at the appearances, there is NO seating. You all crowd around a small stage for the stars appearance, and love every minute of it I might add. :)
Heather and David took the stage and there was a Q&A period. After this was done, 4 pre-selected volunteers were to do scenes with either Heather or David. For heather's scenes, what the person and Heather acted out was the scene when Vicki is at Ryan's appartment and Trisha comes home. For David's scenes, it was where Billy and Mac were talking about running away together but the one where they discuss it and Jill has left giving them time etc.
After the scenes were played out, it was time for autographs. Let me tell you, this alone was worth the trip for me. Not only did David have a different picture to sign then he had in Canada, (different than the one Andrea has on her site David Tom Online) Heather's picture is Dynamite also. In Canada, you purchased the picture and the money goes to charity. The stars are only aloud to sigh their name, so everyone in line gets an autographed picture. Here they personalized it for you.
David was at the table first, then Heather. I was taking a few pictures pryor to getting my autographs. I ended up taking a few picts for others too with their cameras. It was my turn for autographs. I had my video camera in my hand and it was set to show David me giving him his special gifts when he was here in Edmonton. ( Click Here to read Heather's encounter with David in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) I sat down and said "Hello David, it's nice to see you again." I was going to ask him if he remembewred me and then was going to show him the video to jog his memory. I never got the chance. This is why. David replied "Hello" then he looked at me, sort of did a double take and said "Hey, I remember you." Let me tell you, I was floored! I really wasn't expecting him to say that. I didn't really know how to react to it. Don't remember if I said anything else or not. That is how surprised I was.
David signed the photo and I gave a gentleman my still camera as I wanted my pict taken with David. He was signing and talking at the same time and Heather almost had to tell him to look up for a picture. Once I got my photo I moved over to Heather but wanted my picture take with both of them. Got the photo and Heather handed me her photo "Here you go Heather." Heather was saigning photos according to the names David was signing just so it wouldn't take so much time. I didn't want to wast time either this is why I didn't say much (Or honestly can't remember what I said after the I remember you comment)to David .
They kept signing until everyone in line got a photo. They did have to leave a t 4pm though. They were BOTH extermly nice. Was it worth 2 days of travel on the bus to see them? Heck YES!! Would I do it again? Yes!! Would I change anything? Only the way I traveled and the fact that I didn't grill David more after his comment of where exactly he remembers me from. D'OH!!
On a slightly different note, (Canadians, I hope you find the humor in this)on the bus ride down to Seattle, we had to pass through British Columbia. Well a woman got on the bus at a particular stop. I did a double take. She is a Canada Post employee and was wearing her uniform with a blue baseball cap and carring a blue back pack. Her hair was braided into a ponytail at the back under the cap. With my first quick glance, I thought it was Ashley Bashioum (Mac) She could have been a relative. The more I thought about it, the more ironic it seemed that this girl who looks like Mac got on the bus at Abbottsford B.C. weird.
On an even more bizzare note, just because of the way I was dressed, in my black Y&R t-shirt with the cast signitures on the back, my Y&R watch and my black Y&R baseball cap (picture me all in black except for my shoes and my white belt) everyone either thought I worked with David and Heather or that I was from the show some how, or that because being dressed this way, I know everything about the show. I THANK a certain person for acquiring the items for me. ;) All anyone wanted to know was "Where did you get your shirt and your hat?" I had to explain I was just a fan and told them where I came from for the event. All I was called from then on by the other fans was "their biggest fan" Personally I don't know why everyone was calling me big, they don't even know mw and I have been loosing weight lately. lol
There was a t.v. crew there filming an appearance for a new show called Soapzone (Don't quote me on that though)I didn't get many details. They too spotted me in my Y&R gear in line for autographs and asked if they could talk to me. They were thrilled I was dressed for the occassion. I actually ended up doing 3 different segments with them. Segment 1 - Standard where are you from, who are you etc.
Segment 2 - I had to look right into the camera and ask 2 questions of either the characters or voice my opinion if someone died and I didn't like it or what. I took the questions. 1)Victor, what's up with you and Niki? What's up with you and Ashley? Victor, whatssup?
2)Billy! Billy, Billy, Billy. Now that mac has told her Grandmother about you two, Why don't you tell your Mother? What could Mommy do to you? The camera guy took down his camera. "I can't believe that! One take!!" Now, had I had time to think about all this, I'm sure I would have screwed it up. Segment 3 - they wanted to know if I had a particular question to ask any actor. I thought about it for a few minutes. I told them what I had in mind and told them to pick the star they wanted me to ask it to. They said it is YOUR question ask anyone you want. I didn't want to seem obvious. DUH!!
I of course asked Ester the Maid. Well, you all know who I asked because of my nickname.(DTsmyFav) I again had to look right into the camera and I asked my question. David: do you have any input into your character, and if so, how much? Well, it took 3 or 4 takes this time. Oops. They just kept coming back to me for this or that and told me I did a good job. I could make a living at this. Did I knoew how the local celeb was who did this kind of thing.... All I wanted to know then was Where's the contract, LOL.
I personally think it was a lack of sleep over the past 41 hours (ok I got a bit here and there)in order for me to agree to do any of this let alone look right into the camera. It could also have been a factor when I sat down beside David, althought his comment left me speachless so I had no where to go with what i had planned to say.
I write this to all of you as I wait for the next 4 hours to catch a bus home for another 17 hour ride. I still can't help but wonder if my very first ever, trip to the USA (never mind first trip out of Alberta)was a dream or not. I guess I'll feel differently when I get the photos back and have a chance to watch the video.
A very BIG Thank you to David and Heather Tom. It was Fantastic to see them together. That was definitely one big reason I went in the first place. Everyone knows my second, or is he my first!? Hmmmmmmm.
*This page was last updated on Sept. 26, 2000*
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