Now to my report. FRIDAY I got to Newark Airport way too early. 9:00 am for an 11:45 flight. I was pleasantly surprised to see George Lewycky show up who is also from New Jersey, and happened to be on the same flight. I had my seat changed so we could sit together. George was good company, and he's a good friend. We flew Continental Express which is a small jet. Just 2 seats on one side of the aisle, and 1 seat on the other side. Our timing was great because we just caught the hourly 2:00 shuttle to the hotel. It was a 3 hour flight, but only 2 hours because of the 1 hour time difference.

We met 4 or 5 ABBAMAILers right away when we checked in at the hotel around 2:30. We agreed to go to our rooms and unpack then meet in the lobby at 3:15. Then we went to TGI Fridays for Lunch/Dinner. I think it was George, Jason, Mickey, Fiona, Dora, Lars, Mary Ruth, Kevin and myself. (sorry if I forgot anyone). Then we went back to the hotel and heard BAO rehearsing in a room near the Grand Ball Room on the 2nd Floor. After a while Benny walked out with his accordion over his shoulder, looked in our direction, then walked down the hallway. I was amazed that there was no reaction from the ABBAMAILers I was with. Inside, I was jumping up and down, but I just sat there like everyone else.

Then we went to the hotel bar, and more and more people arrived. I went up to my room at 10:30. I had gotten up too early that day, and I figured we had a big weekend ahead. Apparently, Laura arrived right after I went up. All I thought about that evening was. Dam It. I blew it. There was Benny all by himself in a quiet hallway, and I didn't get a picture with him. I might not have another chance to get a picture with him this weekend.

SATURDAY I had breakfast with Paul, Ursula, and Anita and Sandra (?). We were on the first shuttle to the Mall of America at 9:30. I got bored pretty fast. There is a mall near where I live in West Nyack New York called the Palisade Mall which is almost as big, it just doesn't have the amusement park in the middle.

At 11:30 I went to the Van shuttle area, and bumped into George who had just arrived at the mall. I told him I had enough, and was heading back to the hotel. Even though it was about 30 degrees outside, it was a bright sunny day, and I enjoyed sitting on the bench in the peace and quiet for a half hour waiting for the shuttle van.

I relaxed at the hotel that afternoon then met everyone at 6:00pm. Some of us hung out at the Bar on the 1st floor, and some others hung out at the cocktail hour outside the Grand Ball Room on the second Floor. I went up from time to time to see if the doors were open yet. At 7:00 they opened the doors, and we found our tables.

Others have filled you in on the dinner and auction, so I will skip that. It was nice to meet other ABBAMAILers. It really felt like High Society. Everyone was formally dressed. One of the first things Benny said was "How many people speak Swedish? At least half the audience raised their hands. There were Swedish TV cameramen there. The music was great, and Benny was in fine form.

Benny, Helen and the band were all very energetic, and they all seemed to enjoy performing. I don't dance much anymore but I did dance with Laura. I thought about asking Dora, but when I was about to ask her, it was either Mickey or Jason that beat me to it. I didn't feel comfortable going on the dance floor when they were doing the fancy Swedish dances, and most of the ABBAMAILers were guys, or girls with broken legs, or hanging out at the stage.

Of coarse I loved the ABBA songs they played, and it was great to see Benny rock back in forth when he played Why Did It Have To Be Me. And I love Helen. One of my favourite songs of the evening was when Benny played the ukulele, and it sounded like a Hawaiian song that got faster and faster and rocked more and more.

And I loved watching Helen do some wild aerobic type dance to that song. Anyone know what that song was, and if they ever recorded it? If not, they should make a single of it. One thing I'm a little embarrassed to tell you all, but I'll tell you anyway.

At about 10:30, I had to go to the bathroom. I decided to just take the elevator up to my room on the 11th floor, and give my parents a quick call in Florida, and see if they want me to bring my phone down and let them hear a quick sample. Well I forgot about the 1 hour time difference. It was 11:30 in Florida, and I woke my father up. He was glad I was having a good time but wanted to go back to sleep.

I later found out that Helen sang Hemme while I was in my room. One of the first things I did when I got back to New Jersey was get my Kristina CD and to find out what song that is. I'm disappointed that I missed a song that I love, but maybe someone will post a video of it.

After the show, I got a photo with Helen. George was nice enough to snap the shot for me. I told her I was Bill from New Jersey, I think I told her I was Italian, and great show, and that she has a beautiful voice. (I think she looks beautiful also). Well, I didn't intend to write so much. I think I will break my report into 2 parts. I need a break anyway. Part 2 coming soon.

Bill Paganucci, Mahwah, New Jersey, USA

PART TWO:

I left off on Part 1 with getting a photo with Helen after the concert. It is now about 1:00 am, so I will continue with SUNDAY.

It's now 1:00 am and most of us ABBAMAILers head down to the bar. We start drinking, and a long table is set up with pizzas on it. We assume it's for Benny and his band. At about 1:30 am Benny and his band come down. We applaud, and they start eating and drinking. A few fans bother Benny while he is trying to eat, but they were the not ABBAMAILers.

Jason spoke up and said we should not bother him until he is done. I was still regretting not trying to get a photo with him on Friday afternoon. I had my camera, and I was determined to get a photo with him when he was done with his pizza. I was sitting on a couch, and had my back to him, and I turned around every few minutes to make sure he was still there. When he was done, he got up to leave. It was now about 2:30 am. Randy Minton was fast, and grabbed him. Benny put his accordion down, and Randy handed him some things to sign.

As Benny was signing Randy's items, Randy, who knew how bad I wanted a photo, waved me over. I said "Mr. Andersson, can I please get picture with you? I'm Bill from New Jersey. I'm Italian but my family thinks I'm Swedish. I have ABBA photos in Blue and Yellow frames from IKEA on my wall, and I even have a Swedish Flag." He said "Oh you're from New Jersey". Then Randy snapped the picture for me and I said "Thank you very much Mr. Andersson". By this time other people were line up for him. I think Randy played photographer for a few people after me. Thanks again for your help Randy. From that moment on I was a happy camper.

As I walked away, Gorel was standing there. I said to her "I don't want to bother Benny again, but my 15 year old niece from Atlanta is going to do a concert of "Mamma Mia" songs with her High School Chorus." She said she would tell Benny. Then I went up to my room. It was now about 3:00 am. I couldn't sleep, I just laid there thinking about the night, and content that I got my photo with Benny.

A few hours later I got up at 8:00 showered and went down to breakfast at 9:00. The Host told me there was a reservation for 20 under Laura's name but not until 10:00. So I went to my room, read the newspaper and went back down at 10:00. It was great talking to everyone. We actually had about 26 people for breakfast. We spent the afternoon at the bar, and about half the gang gradually left.

At 5:30 pm about 16 of us went to down town Minneapolis to the Dakota Jazz Club to see BAO. It's a shame people didn't know about this before they made their travel plans, because this was a very enjoyable evening. We had a good meal, then the band played. However, this was just an instrumental evening. There was no Helen, and no vocals. It was a very relaxed atmosphere, in a very nice, cozy, rustic club with dark wood floors and brick walls.

Had some great conversation. Talked to Pepe from CA who is a Letter Carrier for the Post Office for 6 years. I got an early retirement after 10 years. He had never seen snow before, I told him how I used to have to scrape snow and ice off my postal truck and spend some of my uniform allowance on Winter Clothing, and all he wears are shorts. This was a good chance to meet Benny, but I didn't need to because I already had my photo with him.

We found out the Mary Tyler Moore Statue was about 4 blocks away, so we all took a walk and took some photos of it. I'm looking forward to see the one Ron took of me. It was now about midnight, and we drove back to the hotel.

MONDAY I caught the 8:30 am shuttle to the airport. My 11:00 flight was delayed to 11:45 because George W. and Air Force 1 was flying into Newark NJ also. I got home about 5:00 pm. As I went to unpack my suit case, I noticed the lock was missing. I thought "What the F**k"? Then I opened it and saw my cut lock taped to a Transportation Security Administration Notice Of Inspection. I was very angry. I didn't know if anything was missing or damaged. My heart sank.

The first thing I thought of was my film. I shot 1 roll of 24 exp. I wondered is it still in here? Did x-rays damage it. Do I still have my photos with Benny and Helen? I found the roll of film, but wondered if they damaged it. I called the phone # on the notice and asked why they broke my lock? She told me they do random inspections. I asked how do you decide whose property to damage? You should do all or no one. Why are the no signs that say not to lock your bags? Why don't the check in people tell you not to lock the bags? If I knew, I wouldn't have locked it. She said the only locks allowed are their locks that you can buy. They have a keys that their people can open.

Anyway, I told here it was not her fault, and realized she was a nobody and hung up. Then I drove to Costco with my film. I got there at 6:30 pm, and the photos were ready at 7:30. I got one set of prints, and also a CD. Now all I have to do is figure out how to share these photos with you all. I'm thrilled with the photos with Helen and Benny. I didn't take many of the Saturday night Dance because they said no flash photography. So I put my camera in my room, and got it right after the show for Helen and Benny. (Everyone flashed away all night anyway but I figured there would be plenty of other people taking pictures). But I did get some greats shots of BAO at the Jazz club, the hotel from the outside with the snow, ABBAMAILers in the bar, and the Olympic Training Ski Jump from my 11th floor window.

Bill Paganucci Mahwah, New Jersey, USA