The Holy Grail

Yes, that is indeed Jessica Simpson in this photo.



I have a secret that only those closest to me know but I'm about to come out of the closet - I'm obsessed with Jessica Simpson. I can't explain why, I just love her. I always have and I always will. So today, my dream came true.

I met Jessica Simpson.

Here's how it happened.

Yesterday I met my friend Dennis at The Grove for lattes. There's a funny story about Dennis. We met at a MediaBistro seminar and it turned out he worked at The Prague Post after I did - we never knew each other but we knew all the same people. So Dennis, who lives in Santa Barbara, was in LA and we met for lattes.

Afterwards I said, "I'm going to run into Nordstrom real quickly and just look at the shoes. I haven't been there in awhile." Dennis said he would come along. So we walk in the door at Nordstrom and I see the sign. It reads "Meet Jessica Simpson here April 29." Jessica was promoting her new line of shoes.

My heart stopped. I quickly ran through the calendar in my head and realized it was the next day. I couldn't believe it. Usually, with my luck, it would have been the day before. "Jessica" I squeaked. "Oh My God, Oh My God. Jessica" Dennis, who doesn't know me well enough to know about my obsession, was looking a little worried. I think the thought I was having a seizure of some sort.

I was so excited I could barely breathe. "I should go to Barnes and Noble and get one of her CDs to sign," I said. I think Dennis thought I was kidding but I turned tail and headed toward B&N. Dennis came with, I think he was afraid.

I felt like the kid in the Disney commercial whose mom tells him to go to sleep because they are going to Disney the next day and he says "I'm too excited." I went off to call all my friends and Dennis went back to Santa Barbara.

So I wake up on Jessica day and I remember I also have her Christmas CD. If only I can find it! I found the case but the CD wasn't in it. No worries, I just need the little booklet.

What shall I wear? I decided to wear this awesome dress I bought in London. It's really cute and I had a vision of Jessica seeing and saying "I love your dress. Where did you get it?" "London," I would casually reply. That didn't happen, but no matter, I still looked cute.

Then I got worried. What if it's a mob scene and I don't get to see her? Maybe I should see if my brother wants to come and we can bring the twins. She would love the twins. I'm not above using my niece and nephew to get to see Jessica. But Myles had a conference to attend and Clio had a little cold so no twins.

No worries. I put on my dress, grabbed my CDs and headed off to Nordstrom. It was about 2:15. Jessica was supposed to arrive at 3 p.m. So I get there and there are two lines. In one line, the people have light blue bracelets. In the other, much farther back line, no bracelets.

I find out the blue line is comprised of people who bought Jess's shoes so they get to go first. No worries. I buy a pair of shoes. I can always return them tomorrow. I queue up in the blue bracelet line. Oh, and the blue bracelet people also got a Jessica Simpson journal, to write our deepest thoughts.

We are a jolly group of Jessica fans, so excited that we are going to actually get to talk to and touch the object of our affection. The minutes tick by, longer and longer. So we make friends. The two girls in front of me are from The OC, not the show, but from Orange County, Laguna and Newport. One of the girls works at Nordstrom so she got her shoes 40 percent off. Jessica gave all Nordstrom employees 40 percent off her shoes rather than the usual 20 percent discount. She's so thoughtful that way.


The people behind us were a woman and her daughter who were in town from New Orleans looking at schools. They just happened on the event. The daughter was beside herself and the mom was pretty excited too. "Tell her you are from New Orleans," we told them. "Work it."

What will she be wearing, we wondered ( a cute white halter with little flowers, short hair which was a little wavy. She looked tired. I think it was her 2nd or 3rd appearance of the day). Who will be with her (her mom Tina, her assistant/friend Cacee Cobb and her hair stylist/friend Ken Paves who is also Jennifer Aniston's hair stylist/friend). We were excited. I felt very comfortable with my little group of Jessica fans. They understood.

After about an hour and a half SHE arrived. It wasn't long before it was my turn. No pictures they said. Bummer. I rehearsed what I would say. I also wanted to ask Cacee if she was ever going to do anything with her life or just glom on to Jessica forever, but I didn't.

Now it was my turn - it was Jessica, my Jessica. I couldn't believe I was actually going to meet Jessica. She was larger than life. But actually she's tiny. I was so excited I almost forgot to even look at her and I totally forgot to shake her hand, which I meant to do but she was holding a sharpie so probably couldn't have anyway.

What did I end up saying? "Hi Jessica. I'm probably your oldest fan." She laughed and said, "No you aren't" but when she looked up from signing my CD covers I could see her rethinking that. Then, because I love Jessica and I feel sad for what she's been going through with Nick and all the tabloid trash etc. I said, "I hope you have lots of luck and happiness for your future." She looked a little surprised and then said, "I hope you do too." It was a moment.

And that was it, all in all it was probably about 20 seconds but I actually met Jessica Simpson.

I really wanted a photo so I doubled back and tried to take one from afar. I snapped it but there was a guy in a wheelchair blocking Jess and I got reprimanded by security before I could shoot another. No matter, I met Jessica.

If the truth be told, the anticipation and excitement and chatting with like-minded Jessica fans in line, was actually more fun than the actual face-to-face, but meeting Jessica was still pretty sweet.

And like my friend Deirdre said, "You can cross that off your list." Happy ever after.