Eleven Years Ago...

As I was getting this blog post together Brandon said to me - doesn't it make you feel old remembering something eleven years ago. The answer is a definite, yes.

11 years ago I went on a trip to California with a couple of people. I think we went to Disneyland and other various places in So. Cal. I might need some reminders of who all went, but I know it was Amy (sister) and I think Jeff (now brother-in-law, Jill (friend of Amy and Kim's) and maybe Greg (Jeff's brother) came also. I can't remember for sure who all came. They had a longer vacation with Kim (and Kevin?) earlier but she had gone home before I got there.

On the 31st of January we decided to go to the Tonight Show. While we were in line we met some crazy lady who said she goes to every show. She comes very early and waits in the line. We were there pretty early and for a while we were the only people in line with her. She asked us if we wanted to know a secret. Of course we did. What would be stranger than a lady who is perpetually in line to see Jay Leno giving us information? Well it turned out to be right. She told us that even though they don't allow cameras in the studio when Jay comes out to warm up the crowd before taping he will ask if anyone has any questions. If you get him to call on you ask to get a picture with him. He'll call you up on stage and take a Polaroid. As you can see by the picture above that is exactly what happened!

He came out just before taping dressed up fully in his Levi shirt and pants...really classy, Jay. He told a few jokes getting us ready for his monologue. He then asked if anyone had any questions. I shot my hand up and he called on me first. Then the next moment was captured on the picture. He asked me where I was from and my name. It was a cool experience. On the show was Pamela Lee Anderson, I believe and I don't remember what else. We used to have it on tape somewhere, maybe I'll be able to find it and put it on here.

Anyway I was pretty excited by the whole thing. I have pretty vivid memories of us waiting outside the studio all day. Some of us going to the close gas station to get us some food. Crazy lady who had been in line from Johnny Carson to Jay Leno. Our invitation to go into the waiting room early because we were the earliest people there. It was a great experience and I remember a lot of it even though it was eleven years ago!