If you don’t believe the post that is to follow, you’re not alone. I’m not sure I totally believe that this sensational night happened either!!!
Let’s start with the fact that I was able to finish the part of the semester long project that I had to hand off tonight ON TIME!! That’s quite the feat with senioritis if that was a question. I brought it to the banquet that the SDA (Student Dietetic Association) put together. It was the most spectacular event they’ve thrown. Did I mention that it was catered by Tucanos (expensive amazing Brazilian restaurant) and I didn’t have to pay? It’s true. I could have invited a date for only $8, but then I would have had to SHARE food? I don’t think so. Instead I stuffed myself with the delectable garlic parmesan beef and amazing penne sun dried tomato pasta. Wow, words don’t do it justice. I was so full I even had to let the tie on my dress lose 3 times! So then we watched a great slide show that featured some candid shots of all of us, classic. If I lost you already, that’s too bad. The best part of the night was when the seniors were “awarded” different awards that pertained to different things we’d done. One girl was nominated to be the most likely to be the ADA President, another most likely to be our program director, most likely to be the General Relief Society President, most likely to be the host of their own Foodnetwork show and so on. She announced the nominee for the “most likely to have 12 kids award” which goes to… (insert drum roll here) LAURA BAIN!! WHAT? Most likely to have TWELVE kids? Has any girl in my program met me? After the initial shock, I go up to receive the award and say, “well… I better get started!” Too bad I won’t be living up to that one girls, sorry to disappoint. I heard the voting was pretty overwhelming and unanimous. I’m not sure what that says about what the girls in my program think of me… Any thoughts?
Then after the festivities and girlfest, I head over to “President Samuelson Senior Celebration Night” with some friends. I was pretty excited at the chance to meet the President of the University I have attended for 4 years. I see him often up on the big screen or in the Marriott Center as a small dot down on the floor speaking, but that’s as close as I’ve come to meeting him. Why not go? They had an insane amount of prizes to give away, and I was convinced. About a half hour after I get there President Samuelson offered congratulations to the senior class of ‘09 and I knew I had to chase him down before he turned in the towel for the night. I search the building for him and see a swarm of people around him. Here’s my chance. I ran into a friend who asked if I had a camera to take a picture with him. Why didn’t I think of that?! I did, but I didn’t want to seem like I was desperate or anything to meet him. So I ran back to my purse to get my camera and take advantage of the opportunity for someone else to suggest a picture! When I finally got my camera and tried to fight the mob around him (ok, it was only like 10 people), someone else kept grabbing his hand before I got the chance! I convinced my friend to cut in front of everyone else to get his attention on us. Once I step in, the conversation speaks for itself:
Laura: Hi President Samuelson, it’s so nice to meet you!!!!
President Samuelson: Thank you.
Laura: I’m Laura!!!!!
President Samuelson: Hi. Where are you from?
Laura: California!!!! (short pause). The Bay Area!!!! Fremont!!! And so is she, and she (pointing to Katy Stovall and Julie Duke)
President Samuelson: Oh, you are East Bayers!
Laura: Oh!! (poking him in the arm matter-of-factly) You know EXACTLY where that is!!!!!! President Samuelson, can I take a picture with you?
President Samuelson: Sure.
All my friends standing around witnessing this pathetic sight: can we take a picture too?!
Laura: (with hesitation) Uh, sure.
Here’s that picture:
As if that weren’t enough I kept going!!!
Laura: President Samuelson, can I take a picture with just you please?
President Samuelson: Uh, I don’t know. (probably creeped out because this crazy girl is acting like he’s some sort of celebrity or something)
Here’s the result:
Yep, I met President Samuelson. I think I really made an impression on him, and he probably will never forget that encounter just as I will never forget it. I stayed for a few more hours in desperate hopes that my night would get even better and I would win something from the raffle. They had every present you could think of except a brand new car. It was better than the Price Is Right because more people were winning, and there was a constant feeling of exhilaration of anticipation for my number to be called. Thrilling enough to raise blood pressure, serious stuff. Each number that was called for a great prize where the owner of the raffle ticket was not there, I contemplated running up there excitedly in hopes they wouldn’t ask me for the matching ticket. It almost got the best of me, but my conscience helped me gain control. They also threw beach balls and frisbees around and the people who caught them could claim a small prize. I stood up on my chair to catch a frisbee and ended up knocking one to the ground. So my friend Christa who was with me got to the ground to try and get it. The girls behind her almost clobbered her with her chair trying to get the frisbee, but we came out strong! I ended up winning “Therapy, V.I.P. Edition!” Here I am with my proud winnings with my friend who risked her life to get the frisbee:
The game was kinda lame, but SO worth the feeling of winning something! All things considered, I think this has been the best night ever!
HAHAHA…..great reenactment of “the meeting of Cecil.” My friend, Von, kept trying to get me to hug Cecil. Think of THAT encounter.
It was a great night. And it cracks me up that you got voted to have 12 kids. Better get crackin’ on that! Thanks for letting me jump in your picture!
Don’t worry Laura, I was voted most likely to forget the fourth wall. I knew that I was a blonde but i didn’t think that I was that much of an airhead!