We landed in Denver & after our 2 hour stayover we were told to sit & wait another hour because the plane's potty in 1st class wasn't working. As a result we were late getting into Minneapolis & missed the Hotel's last shuttle. A $28 bill got us an airport Super Shuttle to the hotel around midnight. There was a loud commotion going on in the Navigator Lounge so we went directly to our room. We were tired & really didn't want to join in with a bunch of inebriated raucous people that late at night anyway. Come to find out...that commotion was Benny & Helen having an impromptu gab & jam fest with the band & other friends. Lost an opportunity that time!

The next day Judy & I went to the Mall of America for a couple hours just to check it out. The first thing we did was go to the Amusement Park in the centre of the complex to get some Dip-n-Dots. It's a frozen confection (the size of BB's) that turn into ice cream if you let it melt in your mouth. We had the mint chocolate. Yummy stuff. Then back to the hotel lounge where the first one we met was David from California. That was about 5pm Friday. The gang started filtering in a few at a time, and by about 7pm there was around 20 of us literally taking over the place. Benny, Helen, Tommy & the band strolled by on their way to the lobby to get their shuttle to take them to dinner. A couple of us went out there & I got a pic of Helen signing some autographs & Benny on his way out the door to the shuttle. I was a little surprised, & pleasantly so, that they were using the hotel's shuttles. If I was worth several hundred million bucks I probably would have a fleet of limos at my ready.

Jason Swan was playing the perfect host. Whenever anyone new came into the lounge he would introduce them. The guy knows everybody it seems. And as this was my first ABBAMAIL event...I know no-one. As has been mentioned, the surprise visitor was Fiona. After about 2 minutes, I realized everything I'd seen written about her was true. What a crazy, wild, spontaneous, loud, lewd, wonderful, beautiful person she is. Everyone was a joy to meet. A bunch of ABBA nuts coming together to meet, or at least be near, one of our idols. The party went on till the wee hours but I pooped out about midnight or so. I wanted to wait up to meet Laura as she was the one doing the scheduling of all the other events. She & Randy were the last to get there before I went to bed.

Saturday was the Mall day. More walking, climbing stairs, returning shoes bought the day before, getting lost, meeting up, doing lunch, more shopping, and finally back to the hotel for a short nap before the big Dans.

Everyone was so different. My goodness they clean up nice. All too soon we were sitting down to dinner...and I thought it was a great dinner.

Then came the auction. Winter mittens like those the Swedish Olympic team wore that were autographed by members of the Minnesota NHL team. The 3 pair went for around $300 each. There were albums signed by Benny & mounted behind glass in a frame. They went for anywhere from $150 to $300. Pepe got his for $150 (I can't remember which one he got). ABBA-The Album went for $300 & I got Greatest Hits-2 for $250. Too much I know but it was for a good cause. There was also a horse (Sorry, I don't know what the significance of the horse is) that went for $1100, a coat for $1000 & two certificates for stays in Swedish resorts. And has been already written, the auctioneer was a jerk...with a capital J. Couldn't pronounce Voulez Vous...said he didn't know Swedish, then when everyone started yelling at him...he thought it was Italian or something. What a jerk!

Benny was at his best. He really seems at his happiest while playing with BAO. Smiling when someone wants a picture & not getting grumpy when they forget to turn the flash off (as was one of the rules before it began...pics Ok but no flash). Kalle doing his version of O Solo Mio & his interaction with Tommy after the song. Tommy tried to get him to go back to his place by his guitar & Kalle kept coming back to louder & louder encores when he defied Tommy. Of course, Tommy acted indignant (according to script) but it was great fun. Helen was in fine voice. Such a powerful sound coming out of that petite frame. The highlight for me was the finale & the ABBA songs (of course) Groups of ABBAMAILers in rows with their arms around each other singing along in fine voice drowning out the singers on stage. Goosebump stuff! He started playing just after 8pm & didn't finish until 12:30am, with just one 15 min break. Not bad for an old guy! Judy & I went to bed around 1am & found out the next morning at the brunch that they came into the lounge after the dance for a Pizza party that lasted well into the wee hours. Another missed opportunity!

Brunch was fun with everyone actually feeling pretty good. Or putting up a good front, I couldn't tell which. The room they gave us overflowed & we had to get another table outside in the restaurant proper. We talked about the upcoming session at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis & whether or not there were still tickets available. After breakfast we said our goodbyes to those leaving on Sunday. Sad to see them go after so brief a time together. Good friends made in such a short time. Some were real "troupers" too. Mary Ruth was sick & should have stayed home in bed...but she was there at every turn. Kevin had just had his house remodelled by a tornado...with him in it...and he didn't have Dr's permission to be there, but came anyway. Jackie had a broken foot in some sort of boot brace...but managed to not miss a thing. Yup...troupers one & all.

Those that went to the Jazz Club had another treat. I think there were around 13-14 of us. A very relaxed atmosphere with Benny & the boys eating dinner the same time we were & then playing for about 2 hours. You could tell they were relaxing a little after such a long session the night before. They finished before 11pm. Others have written about the Jazz club so I won't repeat. I did, however get to talk to Benny for a couple minutes after the show. Several people were getting autographs & pics so I waited until the last & got a little time with him. I got him to sign something for me & just then Judy came up behind us & asked if she could take a pic of the 2 of us. He laughed & said something about 2 old men in the same photo. I couldn't disagree. I thanked him & said something about the fact that I'd seen BAO twice in the same weekend and how many people can say that. He said not very many indeed. He shook my hand & thanked me & the group for being there. He's got a firm grip. Of course most piano players have very strong hands. After we got back to the hotel we got another chance to talk for a quick minute with the band members...then off to bed. Early flight the next morning was only a few hours away.

So many people to thank for a great weekend. A special hi to Scarlett who I finally got to meet. What a sweetheart. And Jason who helped everyone that first day meet everyone else. And speaking of Jason...ever see Jason at a breakfast buffet? I'll not labour you with details...but they definitely lost money on that customer!

A whole roomful of new friends...The UK, The Netherlands, Australia, Mexico, Japan, Puerto Rico, and probably a dozen or more states. (But none from Oregon, Ron). :-))

Fred King, finally home & exhausted in Washougal, Washington USA