(This is my account of meeting Brian and Leighanne on May 6,
2002 - Peggy
May 6, 2002
Are you ready for this!!!! I got to see Kevin, Kristin, and
Kevin's mom up close (and talked briefly to Kristin). But the
most exciting part - I was able to meet and talk to Brian,
Leighanne, Brian's parents again, and even got to meet the
infamous Tyk and Litty up close. It was an incredible day. I
took a lot of pictures but was so nervous because I used a new
camera - never a good thing. (Post note: the pictures turned
out GREAT). The last picture I took was of Brian and Leighanne
together and it was such a great pose too - so they just have to
turn out (and they did).
The day started out where I went to a diner near where the Golf
event was to be held in the Lexington, KY area and I was to meet
Darlene and Nancy (two BSB buddies there). I was waiting for
Darlene when Nancy and her daughter drove up. Pretty soon,
Darlene called us on our cell phones and said, I know I was
supposed to meet you there, but get down here - get back on the
expressway and come one exit down - Kevin and Kristin are here.
Kevin was giving a speech for an organization known as "River
Keepers." So we got in our cars and raced there. It took a
little doing to find exactly where they were at Boonesborough
State Park. When we got there, Kevin was just ending his speech
and was getting attacked by the media. But I was literally in
touching distance of him and close enough to see every bit of
his beautiful face. Kristin was in front of me and I spoke to
her briefly. I mostly said, "wow it is nice to meet you" (or
something kinda dumb like that haha.) She was so sweet though
and said thanks for coming, it is nice to meet you. I took her
picture but it got blocked a little bit by the crowd constantly
moving. Kevin's mother was also there and I think Kevin looks
so much like her. Kevin eventually left and got in a car with
Bobby Kennedy, Jr. who was also there speaking. Kristin and his
mother got in another car. I never got close enough to really
"talk" to Kevin nor did I get his autograph but it was great to
be that close to him and just watch him interact with the fans
and press. I heard his speech was great and I think he got a
little emotional in it so I wished I had heard it. But again,
just to see him up close was fabulous.
Okay - so after that - we went back to the area where the Mutt
Putt golf event was to take place and when we got there, there
was probably about 20-30 girls already there. They were telling
us they already saw and talked to Brian and Leighanne while
Brian was out practicign and I was thinking, darn - if we had
been here earlier, I might have been seeing Brian all that time.
Just for this fan, personally, I would have preferred as much
time with Brian as I could get, but you'll see it all turned out
good.
It was a very dreary, rainy spring day in Kentucky. The rain
would let up but then it would start again. I think the first
Littrell I saw was Brian's father, Harold. He was his usual
nutty self - and was a riot. I asked Mr. Littrell if he was a
better golfer than bowler and about that time he almost hit the
golf cart in front of him with his own cart - and he looked at
me and smiled and said - "what do you think?" We both laughed.
(Side note - when I bowled with Mr. Littrell - he and I had the
high scores of the day - so we did all right - and he is a good
bowler). I think he's probably an athlete / competitor like
Brian.
Eventually Jackie Littrell showed up - came down the steps in
her red BSB sweatshirt with hood and her red capri pants and
Brandon Edgington was right behind her. She, in her usual,
loving self - stood and talked to all of us for quite a while -
easily 45 minutes. She rememebered Darlene and I from the
bowling event a couple months previous and told us more stories
about Brian again. Especially about the incident when his dogs
were stolen. I don't remember how or why that story was told
there but it was very touching when she related how they got the
dogs back. She said Brian told her they got Tyk first and then
Litty. And when they got Litty, Tyk almost licked her eyeballs
out because he was so happy to see her. ahhhh.
They were NOT able to golf because the rain continued and not
only rain but lightning, so it was too dangerous to go out on
the course. But we never did know if this was an employee of
the country club or one of the people who put on the charity
event (it was for the SPCA in Lexington) - but we were all
waiting and not really knowing for sure where Brian and
Leighanne were. A guy standing nearby looked at allof us and
said - "Brian is already out on the golf course." We were all
SHOCKED. We were thinking no way - how would he get past us and
none of us saw him. But we did know there was more than one way
out of the clubhouse and we thought maybe he was able to sneak
past another way for security reasons. Some golfers had gone
out and were trying to golf in between the rain. But the event
was advertise that you could "come and watch Brian golf." So
we're thinking, why would they advertise it that way and yet
he's out there and we were here in the rain and cold waiting.
Some were really showing a little disappointment and were upset.
I honestly think Brian may have heard the stirrings downstairs,
because a moment later he came bounding down the steps and said
"who wants an autograph?"
I do remember thinking, I can't believe this, Brian is standing
RIGHT in front of me. I didn't get excited or scream, in fact
my thoughts and actions were so controlled and calm that it
actually surprised me. I'd never grab or anything anyway, but I
just felt so calm. I think because he was so calm and down to
earth with us that it was like talking to the cute guy next door
haha. But to be that close and see blue eyes are enough to make
you go nutty - he is far better looking in person in my opinion
(and that's saying a lot, because I think he is great looking in
pictures).
As he was signing autographs one girl said out loud - "Brian can
I have a hug?" Brian had a little bit of a funny look on his
face as if he didn't know how to answer to be honest. (I
quickly remembered his mother saying he is a bit afraid of
crowds and is kinda shy.) I said, are you afraid of getting
something started if you do and I laughed. He looked at me and
said "yeah, thanks" and the girl nor any of us got a hug but we
got his time and his sweetness. I could just tell by the look
on his face that he just wasn't keen on starting a hugging thing
at that time but wasn't quite sure what to say to her. I hope I
helped him out of a sticky situation, he did seem grateful to
me.
Brian and Leighanne both signed my Healthy Hearts Club shirt
that Jackie Littrell had already signed at the Bowl-a-thon
earlier. So I now have all three signatures and that shirt will
remain in my closet with plastic over it - I probably won't wear
it. And the pen that Leighanne used to sign - I still have it -
it's in my BSB "save" things haha. Brian used his own pen so I
don't have that one - darn it haha.
Darlene and I mentioned to Brian that we were two of the people
at the recent bowling event with his parents and he said really,
the one in Louisville? - and we said yes. Amazing that he truly
remembers and knows this stuff with all he has going on. He
said, "I talked to the little girl who sponsored it that day" -
I said yes, we were standing right there - the ones in the
background who were yelling hi to you and he laughed. (Side
note: Afer we bowled, Brian's father called Brian on his cell
phone to have him talk to Kayla who had sponsored the
bowl-a-thon. Kayla is a sweet little girl - daughter of a good
friend of mine who has cerebral palsy and and had the same heart
surgery as a baby that Brian did. Kayla had to bowl on her
knees all day because she uses a wheelchair. It was very moving
/ very touching. Jackie Littrell kept saying all day at the
bowl-a-thon "Kayla you just bless my heart." So they went the
extra mile to have their son talk to her.)
Anyway, a few minutes after Brian came down, I looked up and saw
Leighanne coming down the steps of the clubhouse behind him. I
think I must have noticed her first because I said out loud,
Leighanne and everyone looked up. Even Brian turned around to
look. She came down the steps and moved past him and kind of
went behind the open staircase - as if to move out of his
limelight. I waited a minute and then went around behind (which
is when I got her to sign my shirt). She was SOOO nice. By
this time, Brian moved off the actual stairs and he was kind of
standing in front of Leighanne but to her side. I think he was
being protective, which was soo neat. Anyway, I talked to
Leighanne for a few minutes - almost by myself. I didn't want
to embarrass her but her beauty in person takes your breath
away. I even said to her - "you are so pretty." She said
thanks very graciously and I asked if I could take her picture
and she said "sure, but don't you want to be in it." I said no,
that's a scary thought (teasing myself). She said, oh don't say
that, but I did stay out of it and just took her picture - kind
of regret not getting in it now. As I continued to talk to
Leighanne for a minute, Brian did turn around a couple times.
He actually talked to me a little bit too as I stood talking to
Leighanne. At the time I met them, rumors had been floating
around so long about whether Leighanne was / was not pregnant
and I even told friends after I met her that day, with that flat
little stomach - no way was she pregnant. (Well post note - she
was a little bit at that time, but you sure could not tell it -
but it made me realize why Brian was possibly more protective
than normal).
Eventually Brian and Leighanne went back up into the clubhouse
on the 2nd floor, above where we were, and were gone a LONG time
- enough so that almost all the fans left. However, my friend
Nancy, her daughter and I decided to hang in till the end. We
had no place better to go so we stuck it out and it paid off in
dividends. I felt a little funny hanging out so much but I
never have regretted it. It had gotten cold and rainy / windy
and we would go in and out of the clubhouse. Eventually we were
outside and we saw Mr. and Mrs. Littrell (Brian's parents) and
Brian and Leighanne come down with a few other people - Brandon
included. They stood at the end of the sidewalk down from where
we were for a while talking and we did take a few pictures of
them from a distance, but did not disturb them.
Eventually Harold and Jackie got in Harold's truck and Jackie
even said "bye Peggy" as she got in the truck which really meant
a lot to me that she remembered my name. What a treasure that
lady is. Brian and Leighanne were going to an unmarked police
car who was taking them to wherever they were going (I presume
his parents' home). We were near the car and they stopped and
talked to us and allowed us to take more pictures. A funny
thing - as Brian was walking up the walk - and again his parents
were getting ready to leave and waved at us and I said Bye
Jackie, Bye Mr. Littrell. Brian turned around and looked at me
and started laughing - I don't know if he thought I was calling
him "Mr. Littrell" but I said well bye to both Mr. Littrell's
and he laughed again. He has such a great sense of humor.
Leighanne was sitting in the back seat of the car but had her
legs outside and was facing us holding the puppies in their
travel case on her lap and talking to us and Brian stood outside
the car and I bet they talked to us for 10-15 more minutes -
just the 3 of us. They told us how Tyk is the little guard dog
of Litty now and Leighanne was telling us some of the tricks she
has taught them (to speak and count I believe were some of
them). It was unbelievable. I can't believe I was that close,
a small crowd and he was just talking so freely. I thought of a
ZILLION things that I wished I had said, done, asked and had a
the cutest little thing I would have given him IF only I had
thought to take it with me and give it to them. Very very
simple - but a cute refrigerator magnet with a picture of Brian
and Leighanne and the dogs on it - (you've seen the picture a
lot I'm sure) and above it, it said Beautiful You Are. I think
they would have liked it and it would have just been a very
small thing to give them. Anyway, eventually, all good things
must end and they got in the car and I thanked Brian for his
time and he said, you're welcome. As they were starting to
leave - Brian turned around to wave and I blew him a kiss, and
he blew one back to me. It made my year!!!!
FYI:
AJ was "supposed" to be at the Golf event with Brian but
canceled last minute :-(. -
Anyway, what a day is all I can say. I am just pinching myself.
I've always wanted to meet the guys but to meet their wives up
close and personal too and to see Jackie and Harold Littrell
again.
Peggy
Thank you Peggy
