Lanie's Encounter with David Andrew Macdonald: Celebrity Softball Game - Saturday June 10th, 2000

			I first met David the summer of 2000 in Brooklyn, New York. A group of us that met on the Internet decided to take a long weekend in the "Big Apple" and have some fun. I had a great time on my first visit to the big city (I can't wait to go back!), and a definite highlight of the trip was meeting David at the softball game.
	* David playing first base (white cap, purple shirt, and gray shorts).			* David at bat.
			The day was blisteringly hot, temperatures topping out in the high 90's. We felt hot sitting in the shaded stands, so I can imagine how brutal the heat was on the stars who were running around in direct sunlight. But like the troopers they are, everyone played their hearts out without complaint.
	* David got a hit! Here he is at first base waiting for a teammate to advance him to second.			* David heard us yelling at him from the stands (girls, am I really that loud?*L*) and gave us a wave.
			After the game, they auctioned some items for the charity before allowing the fans on the field to take pictures and get autographs. While waiting for the gates to open, we saw David near the outside gate. It looked like he was trying to leave but was stopped by fans on his way out. We quickly made our way down to the throng of people surrounding him and waited our turn.
	* David surrounded by fans near the front gate.			* David greeting (my new friend), Jai.
			Despite the fact that he was running late for an appointment, David graciously stayed to sign autographs, take pictures and talk with us. He was incredibly charming and funny, teasing and laughing with all of us. The biggest surprise (for me) was his voice. I knew that he was using an accent for Edmund, but David didn't sound like any of the characters he's played. He's much more soft-spoken than any of them! Plus, he's even better looking in person than on TV (but my opinion might have been influenced by his wonderful personality).
	* David stooping down so he didn't tower over Jai in the picture.			* Lanie, David, and Sarah
		Meeting David was an unforgettable experience. After spending a few minutes chatting with him, I'm an even bigger fan than I was before. Having the chance to talk with him made me appreciate his talent even more - Not just because of his ability to do so many different accents, but also because it's astounding that a man who is so nice can be so convincing playing the evil Prince Edmund! My thanks go out to David for making my first trip to New York one I will always remember
	* Lanie and David . . . . . .