It all started at a family get together. My sister and my niece,Jenny,were discussing this book about vampires. For anyone who knows me they know that I don't like science fiction and I don't care for suspense, mystery or scary books/movies. I have a knot in my stomach just waiting to see if the outcome will be okay and have even given myself a headache before from the anticipation. I thought to myself there is no way I would like that book. My sister talked about how she didn't like vampires books either and was shocked that she liked this book. I thought I would give it a try. I began reading and it took me a while to get into the book but by the time I was at the meadow and then the ballgame I couldn't sleep. I stayed up the rest of the night to read and couldn't wait for the next book. Finally I read New Moon and then Eclipse. (Jenny was lucky enough to stumble on a bookstore that put Eclipse out almost a week early. Way to go Jenny.) A few weeks after Eclipse came out I was at a luncheon with some friends and they were talking about Stephenie Meyer coming for a book signing in a couple of weeks. I called Jenny and told her to take off of work so we could go. My oldest daughter wanted to go and somehow my other two nieces happened to be "sick" that day and thank goodness Kristina happened to be spending the night with us (even though she lives an hour away). Nicholas tried to talk me into letting him go. I told him if he got all three books read by the time we left that he might catch what Jill and Kristina had. I knew he only wanted to miss school and see the cute girls.
THE BOOK SIGNING
We got up very early that morning and drove to the book store which was an hour and ten minutes away. We wanted to be there early because we had heard that they only had a certain number of tickets and we wanted to make sure we all got one. There were about 40 people in line ahead of us so we were pretty sure we would be okay but then someone in line said they only had 100 tickets. (Wrong) While we were waiting we had lots of fun. Someone had a poster and you signed your name if you were an Edward fan or a Jacob fan. We had some of each in our group and I signed my name in the middle. (I never was good at making a decision.) Jill made a column for Jasper but I think she was the only one on that list. 
They also had a place where you could go and take your picture and put it into a scrapbook with a message for Stephenie. They were going to present it to her that evening at the book signing. We then waited for our tickets. We thought that we each had to have a ticket but it was just one ticket per group. Jill and Kristina were glad we didn't know this before.We found out that she would sign all three books but would only personalize Eclipse. On the way home we realized that Kristina had only a paperback copy of Twilight that had been destroyed on the top left corner. We stopped to purchase a book for her and she actually purchased all three books. We finally made it home and about 2 hours later it was time to go back. Nicholas got home from school and we asked him if he still wanted to go. He said of course not school is over. We talked my sister-in-law Lorraine,and my youngest daughter Mackenzie(who was 8 at the time)into going with us in case we needed them to get a set of books signed. Neither one of them had even read one word of the book.
As we were driving to the book signing I think we drove through a tornado. I have never seen so much rain and wind it was really scary. My van was shaking and I think at one point there was a flying cow. Okay so there wasn't really a flying cow but it was a really bad storm and the trees were swaying back and forth and I had a hard time staying in the right lane. Cars were pulled over to the side but not us we wanted to get there at 6 for the question/answer session with Stephenie. I was hoping we didn't die before we got our books signed.
We made it safely. We even made it in time for the question/answer session and that was very interesting. Then they called out colors and we got in line by the color ticket we had. We were Orange the second group. We moved like cows being herded from aisle to aisle through the book store.
As we made our way down each of the aisles we would occasionally see a book that caught our eye and we would laugh about it. I think I found the best. I just happened to pull it out because I liked the title but I thought the cover was even better.
After waiting in line for about an hour we were almost to the table where Stephenie was signing books. Of course we had the most books of anyone. We had a total of 24 books.
It really was a great night:
we survived a "tornado/hurricane",
met Stephenie Meyer,
got our books signed (all 24),
and Lorraine read the first chapter of Twilight.
BREAKING DAWN
So then I wait and wait and wait and wait for Breaking Dawn to come out August 2,2008. I have gone back and re-read the other three books so that it will all be fresh in my mind. I'm not quite finished with Eclipse but I will read quickly. Melissa has just had a baby so she can't go. Jenny is in Japan so she can't go. Kristina and Beth are going to go where they live. That leaves Lorraine,Mackenzie,Jill and I. I know better than to ask Mackenzie because at the book signing last year she was mad because we wouldn't buy every other book in the store and Lorraine still hasn't finished Twilight. So my niece Jill and I decide to go. We take Michaela,a girl that I would be proud to call my own, with us.
This is a side note but it makes for a very funny story and since this is already the longest post what difference will it make. On our way to the book store at 10:00pm we decided to call Beth and Kristina knowing they would be at the party close to them and tell them we got our books. We got their voice mail we left a message of "WE GOT OUR BOOKS AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO READ THEM" and then a really big scream from all three of us. We hung up and I told Jill and Michaela we would call back in a minute and tell them we were joking. We drove down into the parking lot and went in the bookstore. I saw one of Nicholas' friends from school and realized that I didn't call Beth back and I didn't want her to go complain to the store that we already had our books. I called her back and got her voice mail again. I thought she probablly can't hear her phone ringing because she is in the party. I left a message that we were just kidding. About 10 minutes later I got a voice mail because I couldn't hear my phone either and it was Beth telling me that she got my first message and was at home. She ran to tell Kristina that they needed to leave (they were still at home) because we already had our books. They rushed and got in the car and got to the end of the driveway when they got my next message telling them we were kidding. Beth said by that time they were too excited to go back home so they just went to the book store. Okay now back to the saga.
When we get there we realize that there are several people from church that love the books as much as we do. This made me feel better since the books are supposedly for "Young Adults". We have a great time hanging out, answering trivia, looking at all the people dressed up. We get stickers and pins. At about 11:50 we all get in line and wait until 12:01 when they can start selling the books.
We get our books, take some crazy pictures and then we leave. Michaela and Jill take turns reading it on the way home and I think I will stay up all night and read. I realize that I really want to finish Eclipse first. I spend about an hour reading and then fall asleep. I wake up the next day thinking I will read and realize I need to prepare my lesson for Sunday. At church everyone is shocked that I haven't read it yet. They know how much I love it and how excited I was for the book to come out. I tell them that I just want to finish Eclipse. The young women at church can't believe I haven't read it yet. School starts the next day and my friends at school that have now read the books because of me can't believe I haven't read it. As I am finishing Eclipse I realize how sad I am. I think it is my usual sadness for Jacob but I know better. My friends ask me why haven't you read it. I tell them I have my reasons but I am embarrassed to tell them "I don't want it to end."
MY CONFESSION AND WHY I NEED THERAPY
(I'm not really reading - just posing for the picture. It may be the closest I come for a while though.)
I just don't want it to be over. It wasn't bad reading the other three because I knew there were more coming. But now I know this is the end. John said he would tear the last chapter out of the book and then it would never be over. That didn't help and I told him if he tore the pages out he would be over. These people have become like friends and even though I know I will read the books again before the movie comes out I just don't want it to end. I did finally admit to one of the young women that I didn't want to read it because it made me sad and she said read it you will love it, it will be okay. As she said this the young women's president was standing there smiling. I will probably not be serving in young women's much longer. I think I need some real help. It is crazy to get so wrapped up in a book.
I compare my children to Edward and Jacob. I am very lucky to have one of each. Nicholas has finally started to read the books since realizing that girls will like it that he knows what is going on. He agrees with me that he is one character and his brother is another.
I know that Midnight Sun will come out and that will be what I can look forward to. But for now I am sad. I think I will be making an appointment with a counselor very soon because I am certain this isn't normal. I wish Nicholas Sparks had a new book out that would take my mind off things and I could prolong the reading. Maybe I will read the host first. I haven't read that yet because I like science fiction even less than I like vampires. Okay so I love vampires now but you know what I mean.
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