I landed at Edmonton International Airport at about 11am local time. One hour ahead of west coast time. My mom and sister and I had started our morning at 3:30am in Portland, Oregon. I live a few hours away on the coast (literally next to the ocean) so we got a room next to the Portland Airport because our flight took off bright and early at 6am. Or should I say dark and early!
We found our baggage, got our rental car and off we were with a map of Edmonton and dreams of the NKOTB concert the next day. We giggled as I drove 100 down the freeway on a slightly icy road. 100 kilometers per hour, not miles per hour! ;)
We checked into our hotel, then hungrily drove around the city looking for a restaurant that caught our attention. After learning to navigate around pedestrians and one way streets, we found an awesome Italian cafe downtown.
After one of the best lunches I've ever had in my life, we asked the waitress where the mall was. We still needed to grab a shirt and a few accessories for show. She suggested the West Edmonton Mall, which is the 4th largest mall in the world and the biggest in North America. After dropping my mom off back at the hotel to rest, my sister and I found it easily. This mall was amazing. It stretches something like 8 city blocks and has an amusement park, water park, full size pirate ship, and about a billion shops. There were people everywhere. You could tell who were tourists, they were taking pictures of everything (like us!)!
We finally located a bathroom (washroom in canada, eh!) and started looking in a few shops. We found a small one called American Apparel started looking around. I noticed a small group of people posing for a picture, but I just thought more tourists. Suddenly my sister whips around and whispers to me with her eyes wide "IS THAT WHO I THINK IT IS????"
I was about ready to prove my sometimes over dramatic (love you Toddie!) sister wrong when she stepped aside and revealed one of the most amazing sights I'd ever seen. There looking through a clothing rack was none other than Jonathan Knight himself. I froze and then walked straight out of the store and to the nearby bench. My sister followed, slightly annoyed. I didn't want to bother him but I had to meet him! How could I let this opportunity pass by after traveling all the way from Oregon to Canada just to meet them?
"Should we wait till he comes out?" I asked my sister.
"No, that might take too long! Let's just go in and just politely ask. I'll do it!"
I was so glad she said that! She is always down to do the scary things for me. ♥
We walked back into the store and stood next to Jon who was talking to someone or looking at some clothes or something. The salesgirls were giggling at us, but I didn't care. This was Jon Knight!! I've loved NKOTB for 20 years and have never met any of them before. What were the chances I'd see any of them just randomly in the mall?
"Jonathan?" my sister asked behind him. He didn't hear her. She tapped him on the shoulder and asked again, quietly but determined.
Jon spun around and there he was. OMG!
"Can we get a picture with you?" she asked him.
"Sure," he replies and looks around for someone to take it. The girl he was with volunteered and we put our arms around his waist. I remained quiet and calm on the outside and smiled for the picture but on the inside I was dying! OMG JON KNIGHT HAS HIS ARM WRAPPED AROUND ME AND I HAVE MINE AROUND HIM! OMG! OMG OMG OMG! He smelled like the green spearmint gum he was chewing. He looked so cute with his scarf and his 5 o'clock shadow. I wondered if he would have it for the show the next night.
The girl taking the picture said the first one came out blurry and wanted to take another one. FINE BY ME! Ahhh, a few more stolen moments in his embrace. :)
(below left to right: me, ♥Jon♥, my sister)
After that, my sister told Jon that we came from Oregon to see the show tomorrow. I can't remember word for word, but I think he said something like wow,thanks. We thanked him for the picture and said we'd see him tomorrow. Then we left the store and I just about started hyperventilating!
We accidentally came across him twice more during that shopping trip, in fact my sister and Jon almost tripped over each other when she was coming out of a store. Shopping was almost impossible after that. I couldn't concentrate!
What an experience!! It's so amazing that after having my Portland show canceled and getting tickets last minute to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, I randomly ran into Jon in the biggest mall in North America!
It was a beyond amazing trip and this was just the beginning. More blogs to come!! I still have so much more to tell you! Including the Meet & Greet, getting Donnie's autograph, and the show. Stay tuned!