So the first pledge break comes, and as soon as they put the call-in number on the screen the phones started to ring!!  People watching LOVED him!  We had so many people say that it was "that voice!".  Young, old; male, female - it didn't matter, they all loved him the minute he started to sing.  As wonderful as it was to be taking all these orders for his CD and Video they were offering, it meant that we couldn't hear the interview segments they were doing right in front of us.  I don't think any of us minded though, we were too happy to be hearing all the wonderful comments from the people on the phone.

After that break was over, no one moved even though we were allowed to leave between breaks!  As long as Michael was in the studio we weren't' going ANYWHERE!  Though he did go back into the little VIP room right off the studio, we still didn't leave for fear of missing him when he came back out, which he did before the next break in plenty of time to sign autographs.  He seemed to really love the attention, he was more than happy to sign away, give hugs (and to a few lucky ladies KISSES!).  He is so sweet and charming!  When he was in the studio waiting for one of the breaks he would chat with us, and joke around - when the Blues Brothers medley came on he did the dance!!  (we cheered :) )  One thing that he kept doing that was so cute is every time the phone would ring when we weren't on air he would point at it and shout "YES!!!".  He had the place in stitches most of the time!

Michael signing some autographs.  Check out the look of complete and total adoration he's getting!!!

After that break, the people at the studio had a wonderful surprise for us - they had a professional photographer there that night, and not only would we get a group picture with Michael, but EVERYONE got to get a Polaroid of them with Michael!!!  You should have heard the loud cheer when they announced that one!  When he came out to do the pictures, we all restrained ourselves and didn't scramble to form a line right away :) .  They did the group shots first, and then it was time for the individual ones.  They had this little couch off to the side of the set that looked like it was made from the truck of an old car (I'm sure you've seen them), and they were like "Hey, lets do the pictures sitting on the couch".  OHMY!  :) :)   So we (very calmly I think ;-)) formed a line, and got our pictures taken sitting next to Michael!  With his arm around us!!

Marilyn with Michael on the "Love Seat"

My chance to get cozy with "The Voice"!!
Oh my, did he smell *Wonderful*!!

    When my turn came, my heart was pounding so hard!  I could not believe I was so close to him, that I was sitting right next to that handsome man with the velvety-smooth voice that I had been admiring for two years!  I was trying to absorb as much as I could in the couple of minutes I sat there (a few of us got lucky and happen to catch it when they had to change film, so we had to sit there and wait a minute or two longer, oh darn! :P  His eyes are so beautiful, and his cologne smelled good!  In fact, when we walked down the hallway leading out of the studio you could still smell it!  When Whitney's turn came we made sure that he heard that she and her mother had driven 17 hours to see him; he seem genuinely touched!
    
     By the time we finished with the pictures it was time for the next pledge break, so we reluctantly went back to our seats.  This was to be the busiest break of all!  It was right after Prepare Ye the Way Of the Lord / Gethsemane.  All total, we raised almost $18,000 in two hours!  The studio was happy, and Michael was really happy, and proud too I think.  They had one more special treat in store for us - Michael would sing for us.  So at the end of the final pledge break he did an impromptu a capella rendition of the last couple verses of "Help Yourself", dance and all!  Of course, he sounded fabulous!

      Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to him then.  But we understood, he was not only jet-lagged (apparently just flew in that day), he also was still on London time, so 11pm here was really 3am for him.  To top it off the poor guy hadn't eaten dinner yet!  So as much as we would love to have had him stay, we said a happy good-bye, very very thankful just to have had the two hours we did with him.  I so envy those lucky ones that got to go on to do the DC appearance Sunday night!!  I wish I could have, but it just wasn't possible.  I don't really mind though, those two hours are two that I will never forget!

The crazy chicks on the top row that kept saying "Yum!!!".  *Grin*

It was so special to not only meet Michael, but also so many of the wonderful people who are in this special group, those of us who all have that common bond; our love of Michael and his music.  Even though it was the first time for some of us meeting face to face, it felt like we've always known each other.  Automatically everyone accepts you, literally welcoming you with open arms.  It is such a beautiful feeling, to feel like you have an instant extended family, with so much love!

Thank you Michael, from the bottom of our hearts.  Only you could have such a wonderful effect on people.