Everything is better with butter. Right?!?! Absolutely!!!
So with that thought in mind - Trish, Lexy, Grayson and myself went to Legacy Books in Plano to meet the one and only Paula Deen. The book signing event was scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm so Trish and I thought we should get there about 5:00pm to ensure a good spot in line. Well, maybe 4:00pm would have been a better idea....Dallas does love Paula Deen. The line began upstairs where we were fortunate to be, but once the upstairs filled up with two very choreographed weaving lines - the others were kept downstairs where there lines wound in and around the stack of books. There were young, old, women, men (who get extra points for being there), and even a Great Pyrenees - it's true - everybody and their dog loves Paula Deen.
At 6:03pm, we hear, "Hi Y'all" followed by her trademark laugh which is met with resounding applause. Gray and Lexy scooted over closer to take photos of Paula while Trish and I held our places in line. After she took her place at the table, the line moved quickly (okay - I really having nothing to compare it to but it must have been the good company I was with and the anticipation) and before you know it we see Paula's husband, Michael. Michael is graciously taking photos with those who asked - and we asked. First the girls had their photo taken with him and then Trish and I had are photo taken with him. And there she was...and we quickly wondered if she would have butter perfume on. I don't think she did, but wouldn't that have been great!!! She is just a beautiful as she is on television. Gray was just ahead of me and as she got in front of Paula; Paula said, "Hi there, Doll Face." And Gray said, "Hi" as she had her cell phone in her right hand taking photos and the digital camera in the left snapping photos. As Gray was snapping photos, I met Brandon Branch who co-wrote the book with her and I extended my hand and broke into my spiel, "Hi, my name is Donna..." I was shaking hands with Brandon and explaining to him that I meet a new stranger everyday and write about it. He said, "Well, we are no longer strangers." And about that quick, I was in front of Paula. Her eyes are just a beautiful in person as they are on television and then I fumbled out, "I understand that you had a Grandma Paul. My name is Donna Paul." And she tells me, "I was named after my Grandma and Grandpa Paul." I quickly told her that I meet a stranger a day and I write about them and that I was going to write about her and Brandon. And she said, "Oh my, you do? Do you publish it?" And I was being hurried off by the bookstore minder - it was like a scene straight from A Christmas Story when Ralphie doesn't tell Santa that he wants the Red Ryder BB Gun and gets pushed down the slide; stops and climbs back up...well that was me.....I shucked and jived around the bookstore minder and squeaked out, "I do - I use blogspot." And just that quick, we were done seeing Paula. Gray and I bid Trish and Lexy good-bye and told them to have a great weekend.
Gray and I then turn our sights on getting to the volleyball game. Once in the car, Gray changes into her uniform - we have 30 minutes to cross Plano and to the gym. We made with 10 minutes to spare. Whew. The Lady Blue Rays won 2 out of 3.
And Paula Deen if you are reading this, Doll Face played great tonight. We (meaning me) even yelled from the stands, "C'mon Doll Face, win this one for Paula!!!"
No comments:
Post a Comment