It was September 9th, 2012. My countdown had finally come to an end. Today was the day, the day, the day I met my idol, Cody Simpson. It was a long summer coming but it was finally here. My anxiety was through the roof. I had been imagining this day in my head for months; what should I say? What should I wear? What if I’m too nervous to speak? At that moment all the negatives rushed into my head. I quickly wiped them away and made my way into the kitchen for breakfast. Dad had made my favorite, chocolate chip pancakes and crispy bacon.
After breakfast I went back into my room and didn’t emerge for over an hour. As I was putting my shoes on, my friend, Susan and her Dad pulled into the driveway. I grabbed my purse and got in their van. Susan had brought her Batman lunch box filled with snacks for our three hour car ride to the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. The whole way there we listened to Cody’s music and brainstormed what we were going to say. “What if i freeze up right when I see him? I know i’m gonna be too shy to speak!”, I worried all the way there. “You’ll be fine! Just pretend he’s your best friend!”, Susan suggested. I knew it wouldn’t work. I’m the shyest person of the face of the Earth.

All of a sudden I noticed we were pulling into a parking lot. I turned around and the huge arena was right behind us. We got out of the car and walked across the little side street. Cody’s tour bus, the “Crush Bus”, was in the back parking lot. Susan and I took pictures of it and then made our way to the front of the building. VIP check-in didn’t start for a good hour and a half. We started to walk into the arena but were escorted away because our cameras weren’t allowed in. As we walked back to the car, I was on fire! I had just spent all my birthday money on this $200 camera! And it wasn’t even that professional! Good thing I had brought my ipod too.

Since we still had over an hour until check-in we walked down to a TGI Friday’s that was just down the road. Susan’s dad ordered some pops while me and Susan went to the bathroom. When we got back we grabbed our drinks and walked back over to the arena. The line was starting to fill out so Susan and I ran over and got a good spot not too far from the front. At 4 O’clock the doors opened and the line started moving. I could feel my heart racing and my anxiety was through the roof before we even walked through the doors! I can’t believe I’m about to meet Cody freaking Simpson! Susan and I, along with every other girl in line, were freaking out. The more we climbed the staircase leading up to Cody, the more the butterflies in my stomach started to build up.

Finally we were at the top of the stairs and we could see Cody. I was leaning against Susan trying to stop myself from fainting, I didn’t want to be that girl. Out of no where it was our turn next. Susan pushed me forward, “You’re name is Erin”, she whispered in my ear knowing I’d forget it. I could feel my knees going weak as I walked up to Cody, I couldn’t believe this was actually happening! “Hi, what’s your name?” I heard in his deep Australian voice. “Um, Erin! Hi, wow, um, hey”. Cody smiled his beautiful smile and I grabbed my iPod out of my purse to take a picture with him. Cody grabbed it from my hand and took the picture because my hands were shaking too badly. He then leaned in and gave me a hug. It felt like I was floating on cloud nine with his muscular arms wrapped around my torso. “It was nice meeting you, Erin. I hope you enjoy the show!” I could hear Cody saying to me as I snapped back into reality.