Since Fiona & I were the last two to leave Minnesota, I am very late in posting about this weekend. Here is the first of a few I will make. First, this weekend was so much fun for me. I still can't believe I was able to muster up the nerve & courage to make the trip. As I told many of you, I am terrified of flying. I haven't flown in 8 years and this was my first flight 'ensam'. Both of my flights were very nice, so I now have a renewed courage about it. I am looking forward to taking a real vacation outside of my own state. Hopefully Kristina in New York or next year at Roo. I arrived very early Friday morning. The two things that surprised me the most was this was the first time I had been in snow & at how far away from everything the hotel was. This place was really in the middle of nowhere. I decided to take the hotel shuttle bus to the Mall Of America. On the shuttle was a man who I had heard speaking Swedish. I just assumed he was a BAO roadie or assistant. He was also on the shuttle ride back, so I approached him. He turned out to be Helen Sjöholm's boyfriend. He was quite surprised that so many ABBA fans were gathering for the show. He assured me that BAO music is different than ABBA, which I explained that we all knew and were still ecstatic to be there. He & Helen were leaving Sunday morning for a vacation in Cancun, Mexico. Los Angeles & Hawaii were their first choice, but those locations were not warm enough for them. When we got back to the hotel, I met Gustavo & Bogart from Mexico. The three of us really hit it off and we spent the rest of the weekend together. The one thing that surprised me the most was that they knew who I was before we were introduced as did most everyone I met this weekend. Before I could even say my name I would here "I know you, you're Pepe" or "Oh, so your Pepe" I was really quite shocked & flattered! I had no idea I was that known. That afternoon I spotted BAO & Benny in the hotel lobby and there was Tommy Körberg. He is the one I wanted to meet the most and have some items signed by. He was quite amazed to see the 2 CHESS singles I gave him to sign. I also had Benny sign the BAO CD. Saturday morning, Gustavo, Bogart & I went to the American Swedish Institute. It is really a beautiful place. One of the gift shops carries many, many ABBA & related CD's. I picked up a few things I was missing. Upon arriving back at the hotel we went to the lounge (which was the general gathering place for all of us to hang out) and again there was BAO/Benny/Helen/Görel. This would be quite normal to see each day. Helen got up to leave and a few of us swarmed here for signatures & pictures. She is truly the most beautiful, talented, nicest, sincerest, elegant & charming person. I am now a fan!! During the entire weekend, you could bump into any member of BAO at any time of the day. It's funny, each morning as we entered the breakfast restaurant, Benny would be leaving. "Good morning, Benny"/"good morning, how are you?" This is getting kind of long, so I will post again later. I am still uploading my camera pics, so for now I have scanned all of my autographs & the performance memorabilia including the set lists that were taped to the stage floor. Hopefully Paul or someone can confirm whether or not it they stuck to it. I also got an English lyric sheet. I do not know what song it is though. Here is the link to my photos: http://up.photos.yahoo.com/ed/abbafanusa/my_photos_handler PEPE Melton (yes, I really do have a last name, I just hate using it) Long Beach, CA USA | |
