The Difference between Fan and Fanatic is a Fine Line

If you could have dinner with any celebrity who would it be?

I've been asked this before and honestly, my answer is no one. I'm a fan of many people, but, really,when you meet them, what do you say?

"Uh...huh...I'm such a fan. You're so awesome. Like, totally."

It's not like I have anything in common with Jennifer Garner or Sandra Bullock. Maybe I could give them beauty advice.
I know. You're laughing. So are they.

There is one celebrity, though, that I thought I'd like to meet. Are you ready?

(Photo credit: survivor.wikia.com)

Doesn't look familiar? Does this help?

Yes, Dawn is a Survivor contestant. She was originally on a couple years ago, and is back this year as a 'favorite'. Why would I want to meet this 'celebrity'? Because we do have things in common.
Dawn is from Utah, she is the mother of 6 kids and she's a Mormon.  (She's also a professor at BYU, so clearly, much smarter than me, but we'll overlook that.)  We cheer for her every week as we watch the show.

So, yesterday, I was at my friend's church for her son's missionary farewell.  We were early and were walking the halls looking for the bathroom.
Then, it happened.
 I turned around and found myself face to face with Dawn.  I almost choked. My heart started beating faster and then, the weirdest thing happened. My brain completely stopped working.  It sort of said, "I know you're going to make a fool of yourself, so I'm stepping out."

And, then, left alone without my brain, I proceeded to make a fool of myself.

I don't even want to tell you what happened. It was that embarrassing.

I'm horrified that my husband was a witness. He'll be able to hold this over me for years.

I will tell you that there was an awkward greeting, an equally awkward mention of how we're such huge fans (Yes, I pulled my husband into the embarrassment with me.) and there might have been a hug. (Oh, man, a hug! What was I thinking? Oh, right, I wasn't.)

Then, to make it even better, she went into the very bathroom I was looking for. So, it looked like I was stalking her. We had an almost normal exchange where I told her why I was there (she knows my friend.) She was so incredibly gracious and kind. I consoled myself with the fact that she probably gets that all the time. Probably not in church. And, probably not in the bathroom.

Thing is, I'm not just a fan. Dawn is the kind of person I'd love to be friends with. Pretty much blew that opportunity. Oh, well. At least I was memorable.

(Lia, if Dawn ever mentions this, feel free to tell her that I'm insane. She'll totally believe you.)