By Mae | creator and one of the admins for DBFansite

PART 1 of 2 | READ PART 2 HERE: Dreaming with eyes wide open: On Meeting Didi Benami the second time [7/18 Backstage of Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA]

Location: Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts
Date: July 18th 2010
Time: 3:30pm

The short of it…

(it still could get long!)

This is probably the hardest article I could write for the fansite just because I don’t think I could put into writing how special that first meeting was with Didi. I am struggling to find the right words to convey how truly genuine she is in person. There is no way I could put that on paper but I will try my best.

The entire conversation circled around the fans and the fansite; She cares so very deeply.

Didi extends her deepest gratitude to each and every fan who supported her from the beginning and very much appreciative to new fans just discovering her and her music now. We know you have read and heard her say it in interviews countless times but it was a huge part of over an hour’s worth of conversation. Didi will never get tired of saying it and we hope the fans will never grow tired hearing it because it truly came from a very sincere place.

When she talks about her fans, her eyes glimmer with so much pride, gratitude and affection- she gets misty eyed. She hugged me so many times during our talk I stopped counting at 10!!! It was as though it was meant for each and every fan and she wanted me to impart that to all the fans. If I could only share her tight embrace, her way of saying thank you to everyone I really would. She wanted me to share with everyone how much we all mean to her and that she loves us dearly. The gesture was so genuine, so heartfelt, so beautiful and so special I cried when I got home. It was a very emotional meeting for both of us.

On a personal note, she said she could not believe we cared that much about her to create such a beautiful website- a place for her fans to get updates on her. Keeps saying how talented I was (aaaaw, Didi!!)! She loved everything, the content and its layout! Everything! My response was timid and thankful and added: “how can we not create one? You deserve more and we do our hardest so it could be something you could be proud of.”

There was mutual admiration and deep regard for each other. Didi treated me like a long lost dear friend more than a fan, it was magical. We were having a casual conversation. We exchanged some personal things and a lot of topics which are ‘off the record’ where some we could only share when the right time reveals itself.

She is real, mature beyond her age yet still carries that child like mannerisms that is so endearing and makes her all the more lovable!! She is charming and attentive in her interviews, in person she is that and more. Thoughtful and considerate, it’s not all about her. She listens to what you have to say and looks at you straight in the eye. Her eyes ‘talks’ with pure honesty and joy!

We, I wish to impart how truly beautiful a person Didi is from the inside. Her positive aura, vibrancy and unfeigned kindness transcends everything we know about her from our television screens.

She has made so much of an impact in my life even before I met her that prompted me to create this website along with others. She had me with “Hey Jude.” Her vulnerability moved me. Her drive and determination inspired me to do something about my own little dreams.

Our special meeting validates and completely re-affirms my deep commitment to support her all the way, in whatever path she takes. But I am one person and this website is bigger than I am now. Didi and I need everyone’s support. If we have to do this, we have to do it TOGETHER.

There is a HUGE task ahead after the “idol bubble” is over. This is where Didi will really need our devotion and involvement. While waiting for her album, I encourage you all to please join us in our Facebook or Twitter. Sign up and become a member of this website and let us make a united, strong group for Didi Benami.

Let us make this a two-way street. She inspires us but let us inspire her more by way of our support. This fansite is created for YOU Didi fans. This is the closest you could ever be on getting to know more about her. Twitter’s 140 character limit can only do so little. This website has the permanence and longevity of your inputs. She visits this site and reads our pages and this is where her family gets updated!! Let’s make sure she feels the love flowing in this website! We created this for everyone. Make use of it.

In conclusion I leave you with a quote from Rebecca’s music which has been Didi’s companion through all this. Be inspired: “We have so much potential…Go boldly in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined… Shoot for the moon!!”

Special Note: CHECK MORE PHOTOS on FLICKR. Please respect our copyright on all our photos. Do NOT remove the watermark and give credit to the fansite if you’re placing it somewhere else.

The long of it…

The afternoon encounter

Tim Urban was the first idol to show up at 2:26pm. I had the chance to talk to him briefly and asked if there was a chance Didi was going to come out. He said he’s not sure because they have press people to talk with and Didi is not feeling too well. Like many of the fans who were there, I came with a little something for Didi from us. I decided right there to hand the gift bag to Tim thinking no one else is going to come out and or I’ll never get the chance to meet Didi personally. I told Tim to tell Didi that it is from her fansite and I’d really love to meet her but if she can’t it’s all right. Tim was so accommodating and said he’ll make sure Didi gets the gifts and convey my message.

After Tim left, Katie and Lee stopped by. My hopes were up again! This time I bothered Katie with my persistence and asked if Didi could come out and I’d really love for us to meet! She said yes, I’ll tell Didi. Andrew and Mike followed. Andrew was so pleasant to chat with and I don’t remember if I also asked him to tell Didi I was waiting outside! (I wasn’t such a pest, was I?!!) Andrew and Mike left the scene at 3:21pm.

I was giving up and stood by the side and separated myself from the crowd for a little while. Then at 3:27 there was some commotion where the small crowd gathered. And then I thought I heard my name being called!! The small group were pointing at me with something like “there she is” and I realized Didi was asking for me!!

I scrambled as fast as I could… And there she was in all her radiating beauty, in the flesh, Didi Benami. I didn’t even have to introduce myself, there was like instant recognition from her that she knew me! I could not believe she was saying my name!! She flashed her beautiful smile and hugged me so tight. I am not sure now if she literally took my breath away because of that hug or I couldn’t breathe because I was in her presence.

I felt rushed and didn’t know how long I had with her so I asked if she could just make a quick hi to the fansite because I represent all the fans at the site and want to make sure I share this encounter with the fans! She says sure and so we make an impromptu short video right there. The fans were all over her after that and so I had to give way.

She apologized to the crowd that she couldn’t stay out too long… “but Mae, (calling me from behind the fans!) I wanted to talk to you for a little bit.” I just nodded my head, speechless. In between being dazed and star struck, I still managed to take some photos of her signing photos to other fans and talking with them for 3 minutes!

At 3:30pm, I was in a corner under the shade with Didi. It is hard to concentrate when you are looking at someone so beautiful and so stunning. She took off her sunglasses which made me even self-conscious because then her gorgeous eyes were now staring back at my plain, mortal self!!! Nonetheless, she has this easy way of putting you at ease that at some point you forget you are talking to someone of her stature.

She is such an engaging person. You want to hang on to every word she says. Didi is so easy to talk with!! We talked about things I don’t have the liberty to say yet and some personal things. Sorry, I wish I could share them but I wasn’t interviewing Didi. It was my first meeting with her after all. I wasn’t going to ask to ‘interview’ her. Not on first meeting anyway.

She complimented the fansite a huge lot and every time she says it, she can’t help but hug me! and hug me yet again!! I was too dazzled to react and I just embraced her back. She mentions that it is where her family gets updated!! It is amazing and beautiful and she knows how much hard work it is to put up a site like that!

She looks at her security detail as the lady was signaling Didi about the time. The lady was there “guarding” Didi the whole time, listening to our conversations(!!), staring at me bored and disinterested yet seem ready to tackle me at any given point should I do something crazy to Didi!! I mentioned that to Didi and Didi said not verbatim: “oh, don’t worry about her, she has to be here…” Didi says to me: “I’d really love to talk to you some more, but I have to go and get ready…”

So Didi says to the lady: “Could you arrange for Mae to see me later after the show?” The lady says: “Sure but only for two people!!” I responded: “Oh absolutely, more than I could ask for!”

Here I was, 24 hours ago I didn’t think Didi knew I existed as a person. She knew about the fansite but me personally? No siree! I came to the pre meet and greet with no expectations. I was hoping to meet her yes but never expected nor demanded more from her to do any extra step. But she did!

The lady told me to get my backstage pass at the box office at 6:00pm. I wished her the best on her set and she says: “Please see me after the show!” and then we hugged again! and again, and kissed me on the cheeks!

The heat or the long wait didn’t seem to matter anymore. Nothing else mattered. I was in a dreamy state…

I was so sure I was dreaming all of this. How can this be true?! This is beyond real!! Yet I look at the photos! They are real! I met Didi Benami. She met me… What a day!

To be continued… READ the after show meet and greet with the idols and Didi!!

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