Seattle really put on a show for Charlotte! Sunny, temperature in the mid 60's, the trees are fresh with new spring leaves. All in all, a beautiful day. 

I got to Costco a few minutes before 1:00pm. When I entered the store, I faintly heard Charlotte singing (no not live, darn it). Following the music, I found a TV monitor showing CC in Jerusalem in HDTV playing. The monitor was hung behind and above a table where obviously Charlotte would be signing books. In front and around the sides of the table, there was a display with copies of the book, Charlotte Church (the second album) Charlote Church in Jersusalem and Voice of An Angel. The table was at the end of an aisle. 


The Line 

There was a line. A very long line. The line wrapped around and down a couple of aisles. There were probably a hundred or so people already in line. The end of the line was back by the Costco bakery. Mmmmm, I love the smell of fresh baked goods! A few minutes after I got in line, I heard some applause, I assume indicating Charlotte's arrival. The guy in front of me was reading the book, as was the older gentleman behind me. 

One of the women behind me had her three daughters with her. They were probably around 10 years old, and each one had a book. Some of the people around me also had either a CD or the CC in Jersalem DVD. I simply got (another) copy of the book and (another) copy of CC. 

The woman behind with the three girls was talking with her friend about Charlotte's appearance on NW Afternoon, and about how Charlotte got her start. I filled her in on some of the details. I noticed that the gentleman behind me, while reading the book, was writing something on his business cards now and then. It turns out that he was writing a note to Charlotte that he would give her later. Doh! I wish I had thought of doing something like that. 

Halfway there 

Well, because of the way the line wrapped back and forth down the aisle, at about the halfway mark, we could see and hear Charlotte, and some people grabbed some pictures. Charlotte has her hair pulled back into a pony tail, and is wearing a long skirt. I notice James and Maria talking with people. There's a few other people there that look like Sony reps, 
or maybe bodyguards. There's one lady that looks very much like Catherine, one of Charlotte's tutors. (James is rather tall. I'm 6'2" myself, and he's a inch or so taller). At one point, James runs . . . err . . . *walks briskly* back towards the back of the store. He comes back a minute or so later with a couple of bagels. He splits one in half and hands it to Charlotte, who is busy signing autographs. 

The Home Stretch 

As we approach the end of line, a Costco employee tells us that Charlotte will sign one CD or DVD for each book we buy. This is, no doubt, to speed things up a bit and to reduce Charlotte's hand cramps. She (the employee) also asks us to have the book open to the "Title Page" -- the page in the book where the title is printed, and if we want her to also sign a CD booklet, to have the booklet removed from the jewel case and opened to the page we would like her to sign. they also mention that Charlotte doesn't have time for any poses with people. Of course, this makes sense, simply because of the large number of people there, and the amount of time it would take 

As we get close to the end of the line, we start talking about taking pictures, and after I comment on how I left my camera in the car (wrong film in it anyway), the gentleman behind me offers to take my picture with his camera. He also offers to take a picture of the woman behind him and her three girls. 

We're There! 

I hand my book and CC booklet to the woman assisting Charlotte, and step up to the table. Charlotte signs both of them, looks up at me, smiles and hands them to me. God, she's beautiful. Those eyes seem somehow far more expressive than they should be. She's also young enough to be my own daughter, which is really kinda of how I think of her. I'm about four years older than James. 

I tell her, "Thank you... For everything" I really wanted to also ask if there are any plans for a concert in Seattle, but didn't want to tie-up the line. The gentleman (I really should have gotten his name) behind me gets his things autographed, and his picture taken by the woman with the three girls, then for some reason, Charlotte "breaks the rules" and offers to let him get a shot of her and him. Heh. 

The woman and the three girls also get their picture taken, and Charlotte also poses for a snapshot with them. It's not untill a minute later, as we are exchanging addresses so the gentleman can send us our pictures that we find out why Charl posed for the pictures: a professional photographer either with Costco, or with Charlotte's entourage, asks her (the mother of the three girls) if she will sign a model release for the girls. 

I start looking around for either James or Maria, to ask them about a concert in Seattle, but they're not around. Bummer. Oh well, it will either happen, or it won't. Somehow, I think it will. :-) 


 - John

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