Meeting The Pioneer Woman – Charlotte, NC Book Tour

OK, so it’s no secret I love P-Dub’s cookbook.  And therefore I love P-Dub because she created it all.  But really, I loved her long before the cookbook.  I was reading The Pioneer Woman when she was still posting Black Heels to Tractor Wheels as blog posts.  But as I waxed poetic about the other day, it got a little personal last December when I started cooking.  To say I was excited to meet her tonight is a little understatement.  Yes, we all know I love celebrity in general but really I felt, with thousands others, that I knew Ree and I just had to tell her in person how appreciative I was.  And I did!  So here’s how it went down:

This is Joseph-Beth at SouthPark.  I didn’t know it existed until tonight.

I met my friend Becky there and we scoped out the bookstore and found the nook where the signing went down.  I did a little squee and took a bad picture:

Becky and I then squatted in some chairs and took pictures of ourselves while we began the long wait.  We were actually one of the first there and chatted while everyone began to file in.  But we got kicked off of the second floor where her talk and signing were going down just before Ree came out.  So we went and stood downstairs.

And while we were standing there, all the sudden Ree showed up just a few feet in front of us and went up the stairs.  I grabbed Becky’s arm and said, “There she is!” and then snapped another picture.

And then a few minutes later, a very nervous, sweaty (according to her) Ree came to talk to us.

She was her usual, funny, self-deprecating self as you’ll see below. 

The Pioneer Woman Charlotte, NC from Amy Bennett on Vimeo.

For the record, I was the one that asked her about the ending to Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.  And she wouldn’t budge on any spoilers, darnit!

So the next two hours were spent roaming around the bookstore, chatting with Becky, her mother and her friend (and my new friend) April.  Finally, it was Group G’s turn.  What happens is you get tickets before the signing and they assign 20 people to each alphabet letter.  Each group is called one at a time upstairs so basically you are free to roam until it’s your group’s turn.  Which is genius so there are no waiting in lines!  So we finally got up there and we got in our group’s line.  Ok, so there is one small waiting line.  And I was thinking I might either puke or cry when I got up to meet her.  I did see a familiar face though.  Back in high school days, I worked with that Joseph-Beth worker in the green there, Mrs. Betsy.  I babysat her daughter a time or two.  It was good to see a familiar face.

So Becky and April were before me but when they were done we wanted to do a group shot but I hadn’t met Ree yet.  But when I emerged from the line to get into the picture and Ree saw me, she was all “Amy!  Bennett!”  And Betsy was all “I know Amy!”  And I was all “OMG!  Ree knew my name!”  She really does read my stalker tweets!

So then it was my turn and as I’m sitting down, Ree announces to Mrs. Betsy that we’re acquaintances and Betsy tells me to sit down because apparently I was nervously still standing up at the table.  And then I began to tell her just how much the cookbook changed my life and how appreciative my husband is.  Ree had a great smile and was so nice. 

So then we took a pretty picture!

I told her I had 8 more recipes to go.  And she told me she likes my blog!  And I’m thinking, OMG, Ree has been to my blog!

And then Mrs. Betsy thinks to take pictures of us while I tell her how she changed my life and I give her my gift. 

I’ll try to ignore my funny faces. She gratefully accepted the gift.  If you’re wondering, I decided on local strawberry jam and syrup and a fabric coffee wrap with a “P” on it with another note telling her how much she changed my life.  I signed it With buttery and creamy love, Amy.  And just as I’m typing this I realized that maybe could be a bad idea.

And then!  And then!  Ree asked Mrs. Betsy to take a picture of us with her camera.  Do you see her Nikon sitting there at the front of the table?  Yes that one!  Because we’re acquaintances!

At this point I drifted out to the parking lot on Cloud 9.  I came home and Scott was so funny because he let out a fan girl squee with me as soon as I walked in.  And then I showed off my autographed cookbook.  The same one that’s falling apart and have used approximately 52 times.

        

See that smile?  Yep.  It was a good night. Love ya, P-Dub!  You’re my favorite acquaintance!