GleeHab, The Easter Egg Roll & The Best Day Ever

I have to preface this post with a story.  When I was a senior in high school I dated a boy, let’s call him Jim.  We dated all through my senior year and then all of a sudden he dumped me because I wouldn’t put out.  Nice.  We managed to stay friends through college and beyond and as luck would have it I bumped in to him today, of all days.  You see, he is a photographer for the NBC affiliate here in DC.  We will meet Jim again later in the post…

My daughter woke up last night with a high fever.  She was sick all night but her fever went down around 6 AM which was about the time we had to start getting ready to head to the White House.  They told us to arrive at least 90 minutes before our ticket time so we dressed C up in her Easter best and headed to the long lines that awaited us at the White House.  She started spiking a fever again but as soon as we set foot on the South Lawn and she saw the GIANT Easter bunny in front of her NOTHING could stop that kid from grabbing as many eggs as possible.  She may only be 14 months but she has fully grasped the concept of those little eggs filled with candy.  My mother was with me and took over childcare duties while I searched for the Glee cast members and the stage.

By the time I got to the stage I was so far away from it I might as well have been on the street.  It was 8:30 AM and the cast was set to perform at 8:35.  I was devastated because not only was I not able to see a damn thing there were sirens going off all around me and I was worried I would not even be able to hear it.  Then it started, the first 3 chords of Somebody to Love bellowed through the speakers and all 12 of the New Directions kids were belting out one of my favorite numbers from the show.  I listened for a moment and then turned to try to find my mom and C.

Enter Jim.  When I turned around I literally walked right in to him.  There he was, draped in press credentials and just as cute as he was in high school.  He gave me a big hug and we chatted for a moment but he could tell I was antsy to soak in every note of the performance.  He then whispered to me the best words I’ve ever heard, “Wanna go up close?” Um, YES PLEASE!

About 3 minutes later Jim handed me his huge camera, put his press credentials around my neck and hoisted my big pregnant ass on to a speaker less than 3 feet away from the front of the stage.  The cast was just finishing up Somebody to Love and I spotted Kevin McHale cute as ever in his wheelchair, Lea Michele close by and caught Amber belting out that last note.  It was amazing.

Lea welcomed everyone and introduced Matthew Morrison & Mark Salling.  I’m not even lying when I tell you that I could have reached out and touched the two of them.  Matthew whipped out his ukulele and Mark his guitar and the two serenaded me with Somewhere Over the Rainbow.   Next Lea & Kevin (now standing) sang Charlie Chaplin’s Smile and I cried like a baby.  Then, Lea (acting as the emcee) introduced Mark Salling who was about to perform Sweet Caroline when they hit a rough patch on the technical side and he was delayed.

Jim was standing below me calling to me but I couldn’t hear a thing.  One second later I felt a hand on my leg and I looked down and there was a White House security guy pulling me off the speaker.  He chastised me for standing on the equipment and promptly asked me to leave.  In all honesty, I wasn’t that upset because I saw Matthew Morrison (and was literally close enough that I could have grabbed his ass if I wanted to) and that made me happy enough.  My daughter was still sick and I felt awful being there in the first place so I was content to leave.  Even if it was by force.  I thanked Jim profusely, handed him his fancy camera and press pass and said good-bye just as Jim was slipping the barely used memory card from his camera in to my hand!  When I left Mark was still having technical difficulties so I don’t know if he was even able to perform.  I also don’t know what else they sang.

I took tons of pictures.  I am NOT a photographer and I was juggling the biggest camera of my life.  I didn’t know how to work it other than to point and shoot so I just kept snapping.  I only got through Mark before they kicked me out so photo coverage ends there.  The photo quality is terrible but you get the idea.  I was standing under the camera that was shooting the live feed for the White House so if any of you watched it live this morning you’ll see a similar angle.

It was hands down one of the best days in my life (aside from my marriage and the birth of my daughter).  Thanks to Jim for totally redeeming himself after 10 years!  Thanks to all of you for reading my endless Tweets.  Thanks to the cast of Glee and Matthew Morrison in particular to happily ending what has easily been the worst couple of weeks in my life.

Again, I apologize for the poor picture quality.  You get the idea though.  Everyone did a great job.  I am however beginning to question Lea Michele’s claim at perfect pitch.  I too have perfect pitch and I can tell you that she was a little off but hey, nerves have a lot to do with that.  Amber is amazing.  Matthew Morrison sounds EXACTLY the same live as he does recorded.  And, he is just as delicious in person!

Now, without delay here are the pics…