It's a good thing we didn't meet, because what would have happened to poor Paul?!

Here we go, most memorable moment time.

Let me set the stage a little bit first.

Picture it, 1986. Me, a chubby little 12 year old girl who just discovered the beauty of MTV. This was very taboo, but believe me a girl finds ways to sneak it in ;) And one day my life forever changed, I will literally never forget it. I sat down to see what music videos were on and there they were.....

For the first time, I laid eyes on Bon Jovi. It was love at first sight. I'll never forget calling my best friend Dana Albertson, and telling her, "there's this group called Bon Jovi, they all have long hair, I know that sounds gross, but they are sooooooo cute" and so it began people.

An obsession with a group. I learned everything about them. I hid pictures of them under my mattress. I would go to Dana Albertson's house and Melissa Detrick's house and we would play their music all.the.time. We would watch MTV with the prayers that their videos would be played. We would rent VHS tapes of them, and watch them until we finally HAD to go to sleep. I don't think I can explain just how obsessed we were.
I loved the whole group, but two in particular I really loved. Of course Jon, and then Richie Sambora. When I think of my youth, they color it. They were always in the background and when I hear particular songs of theirs, I am immediately a young girl again.
Fast forward to the year 2000. Me and a friend are headed to a Bon Jovi concert, and on the way there, I was given the news that I would be going backstage to meet the group. Let's just say, I almost passed out. My companion thought I was losing my mind. I mean, how could I meet them???? REALLY???!!!!

We get to the concert and the meet and greet was actually before the show. There was a line of us, and I'll never forget how jittery my stomach was. This concert actually had a lineup of performers, and we would meet most of them. For example, we met the group Train, but I could have CARED less. This is also when Richie Sambora was still married to Heather Lockler, and we stood by Heather's aunt and uncle. It was all so surreal. Then the moment was approaching, Bon Jovi was to be entering the room. And I'll never forget the door opening, and in walked.....Richie Sambora.
Tico Torres.
David Bryant.
And then I'll never forget this moment either. Someone had a hand radio, and they radioed that Jon would not be coming up "he was hesitant" my stomach kind of sunk, but it didn't last for long. I understood, and besides I was in the presence of a group that I loved, I had to take it in.

So, here we are. Yes, this is a picture of a picture. Sorry. By the way, I have no idea who those other two dudes are behind me. But there's David to the far left, then Tico, and Richie on the far right. And me right there in the front. Proudly wearing my Superman tank, HA! If you know anything about Jon, you know that Superman is one of his things, and of course being his girlfriend I would know that.
Here's the t-shirt. They signed it on the back.
And the front. I keep this is a very special place ;)
So, you see I understand why Jon was hesitant. He knew I was out there, he could feel my presence, and we both know, that once he saw me, he would drop to his knees right then and there and ask me to marry him. And just think, what would have happened to poor Paul?!? ;-)

Until next time Jon....