Tuesday was not going particularly well for me as I had started a new job on Monday, with the idea that I would train with the incumbent employee all week, but at the end of the day Tuesday they told me they considered me ‘trained’ and didn’t want to pay us both for the whole week so see you Monday. Sheesh. But it turned out to be a good thing, as I then went home and found an e-mail from my friend Jennie telling me Sean Astin was hosting an event on the Mall in Washington DC for 9/11. Several e-mails and telephone calls later, we had a plan of action and I had a gift for Sean, my camera, my art portfolio, my Movie Guide and a Topps trading card ready for action.

 

I stopped by my other job briefly on my way to Jennie’s; when I told them I was going to the Lincoln Memorial, one co-worker, Michelle, asked me which Lord of the Rings person was there. I must be predictable or something. Anyway, I then drove out to Jennie’s just in time to be assaulted by the Hound from Heck Titus and a very excited Tibby. We set out to Germantown to pick up Heather, then we went to the Shady Grove Metro Station. It was at this point we found out I’d forgotten my handicapped parking pass (I’m recovering from a shattered kneecap, my leg is in a brace and I’m supposed to be using crutches for any distance walking). We were still able to find a parking space, but it was on the far side of the station, and between my knee, Heather’s limp and Tibby’s stroller it was a long hike. We hopped the train and arrived on time at the Dupont Circle Metro Station, where Alison picked us up. We then headed to the Mall, where parking is elusive at best. Jennie made a comment about how whenever she drives around that area, she always winds up in Virginia (on the other side of the river). Alison assured us this would not happen today. You guessed it – we wound up in Virginia anyway!

 

Alison decided to drop me off beside the Lincoln Memorial given my circumstances, and I hobbled off to the front of the Memorial. There were equally large groups on the Memorial steps and both in front and in back of a stage where an African music group was performing. I wasn’t sure where I should go, so I called Kyra, head of the DC chapter of the Official Fan Club, who said she would be there early. We then discovered the hard way that the wind was blowing so hard cell phone communication was impossible. I eventually found her in front of the stage anyway, where she had staked out a few seats, but it seems that a children’s choir was performing and the kid’s parents had claimed all available seating, so they said, even though not all chairs appeared claimed. So Kyra and I retreated to standing room, at the top of the next set of steps, to wait for the others; besides my group, we also acquired Blaze and her (extremely patient) father. Alison had forgotten to bring anything for Sean to sign, so I gave her my Topps trading card and a Sharpie.

 

The event was supposed to start at 3:30 but had been changed to 4. Sean was the emcee of the event; I took a couple photos of him during his introductory speech. But it was an awkward place to stand, so I left and went around to the back of the stage, where I met a few other Rings fans and got a space against the rail. And stayed there for over 90 minutes while this volunteer appreciation presentation went on. I couldn’t hear anything behind the stage, and most of the time couldn’t see anything either. Kelly Clarkson was the main attraction, and the cops and security were mainly interested in moving her from place to place. Quite a few mounted policemen were there, with some truly beautiful horses. When the rest of the gang gave up on the front and came around back, we took a photo of Tibby with one particularly gorgeous gray stallion. Then Tibby played on the barricades while we waited…and waited…and waited…Blaze & Kyra took turns holding up Kyra’s sign, which said “The Ringers Are Here Sean!” pursuant to his request on his site the day before, each time Sean was faced generally in our direction

 

Finally the event was over, and seeing that no one was enforcing the gates and barricades after Clarkson left, we wandered out onto the stage area. Sean was taking pictures with various of the volunteers and participants in the program; his friend Todd was serving as photographer and general personal assistant, we later discovered Todd was rather surprised and confused at winding up in that position but he handled it better than many professional handlers do. I told Todd I had a gift for Sean, he said he had to get Sean through 5 interviews and photos with the volunteers, because they had to leave, but if we waited he’d get to us. Jennie did manage to sneak in with a ‘wee scarvie’ for him; when Sean saw us, he exclaimed, “Oh, you’re the Billy Boyd fans!” He was very happy to get a scarvie, and treated us to his imitation of Billy’s accent. Then we tried to get a group photo of the loons, Sean and the scarvie, but Tibby had wandered off. Jennie called her over, and Sean adored her at first sight. Problem was, the feeling wasn’t mutual! Tibby came over carrying Jennie’s Movie Guide, and Sean reached for it intending to sign it, but Tibby yanked it away from him and scowled at him. Then Jennie scooped up Tibby for the photo, but she wouldn’t even look at Sean no matter how hard he tried to get her attention. Later Sean was doing a TV interview, and Tibby was crawling on a Jersey barrier a few feet away and slipped slightly. Sean turned around, still on camera, “Oh, be careful!” and then went right back to the interview like nothing happened.

 

After Sean was finally done with most of the participants and interviews, we managed to get back in there. Kyra announced we were the Ringers from the Official Fan Club, and I added, “You told us to be here, and we are!” Sean told me I followed orders well. There was much photographing, almost entirely with my camera as Jennie, Alison and Heather hadn’t brought cameras, plenty of autographs, handshakes, chit-chatting and a couple hugs. Sean was tickled that I brought him a present, he loved my drawings, (he signed one and a picture was taken of us with it) and promised to read my stories. I didn’t see it, but Jennie told me Sean had never seen Sam’s character card from the Topps set before Alison asked him to sign it. He also did some silly poses with the wee scarvie, and then he decided to make Tibby his ‘project.’ He was going to get Tibby to shake his hand, somehow. Jennie and I encouraged her, Sean practically begged her – he even got out his wallet and showed Tibby pictures of Alexandra, “see? I have a little girl just like you,” but nothing worked. Finally Sean told Tibby she was very special, because “you’re the only one here who doesn’t like me.” That didn’t work either! By this time it was late and everyone was hungry, so Sean left and after a potty break so did we.

 

On the way back to the car we stopped at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which I had never seen before. It is truly impressive, and as an artist I found it a marvelous piece of architecture. I also finished my roll of film on a shot of the Washington Monument catching the late sun. Then we went to Alison’s car…which wasn’t quite where she’d left it. She had parked it on Constitution Avenue, but it’s illegal to be parked there during rush hour. So the police had picked it up and set it on the grassy strip between the Avenue and a service road! Along with a $100 ticket and a tow request. Yikes. Then we discovered Alison had left the car’s lights on, and the battery was dead. She tried to talk a few cabs into giving her a jump, but none were willing until I hobbled out to the curb, crutches and all, looked as pathetic as possible and waved one over. He drove up onto the grass and gave her the jump, he asked for $15 but we gave him $20 for bailing us out. Then we went to Alison’s office, where she had to get an e-mail out that night. Then we drove back to Virginia so we could get out of the city, and went back to Rockville for dinner, then began dispersing. I didn’t get home until almost 11:30 pm, a twelve hour venture. But worth it!

 
 

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