Yesterday, after much waiting and hoping, I finally got the chance to meet my two favorite actresses from my favorite TV show, Once Upon a Time—Lana Parrilla and Rebecca Mader. I have adored these two wonderful women for many years now, and getting to meet them in person was a total dream come true. My best friend and I went down to New Jersey for the Once Upon a Time convention, and spent a lot of money and drove two hours to get there.
It was all a little strange for me, as someone who had never been to a convention before. I was surrounded by cosplayers and fangirls galore as we waited in line to get into the main auditorium. We sat through two panels, one with Raphael Sbarge, who plays Jiminy Cricket on the show, and another with one of my favorite actors, Sean Maguire, who plays Robin Hood. Raphael was so sweet, and Sean’s panel was absolutely amazing, and a great way to start off the day.
Afterwards, we were back to waiting in line for our photo op with my two favorite ladies, Lana and Rebecca. I was over the moon about the chance to meet them because they have always been huge sources of inspiration and strength for me. Well, as we were waiting in line, the two of them walked by and were beaming and waving at the fans. I pulled my phone out to take a picture of them, but as soon as they were within two feet of me, I gaped at them in awe, and missed my photo opportunity. As they walked away, my eyes filled up with tears at the mere sight of them, and they were even more beautiful in person than I could’ve ever imagined! We went into the photo op and got our picture taken with the two of them, and then moved on to the photo op with Lana Parrilla and Sean Maguire. During the second photo op, they both hugged us, and Sean had a two-minute conversation with us with his arms around my best friend the entire time. Though Lana was definitely the reason I wanted to go to the convention in the first place, that conversation with Sean was one of the coolest things that occurred.
After our second photo op, we went back into the auditorium for the silent auction. Lana’s autograph session had sold out weeks ago, but my best friend and I spent a little too much money to get a ticket to her autograph session in the silent auction. Then, and if the day wasn’t good enough, I got autographs from Lana and Rebecca! Rebecca sang my name as she signed my picture with a little heart after my name. Then we went over to Lana, who is hands down my favorite of all time. I told her how much strength I find in her, and how much I love her, and she wrote “Strength! Love, Lana Parrilla” on my picture. She too said my name, and made me cry all over again in that moment.
This convention truly rocked my world, and it was such an amazing experience to finally meet my heroes. I did not end up with any stories like some people have, when they meet their favorite actors and actresses, and come out disappointed. I came out loving these three even more after their hugs, smiles, and kind words. One day I know that I will meet them again (next year, perhaps!) and then I can get even more of Lana’s amazing hugs, Rebecca’s wonderful personality, and Sean’s sincere kindness and compassion. But until that day comes, I know that this is a memory that I will carry with me forever.
