We finally made it to the city at 3:00 PM, so we quickly grabbed some Starbucks dinner and went to the AOL building on Broadway street. Nervously, I sat in the waiting room being impatient and eager to see Shailene. The woman who I conversed with over e-mail the morning before, came over and brought us to an area filled with chairs and a mini stage where the interviewer, Shailene, and Gregg would be sitting. They said to sit wherever we’d like, so of course we sat in the front row just a few feet from the stage, then told us she was so happy we came from Michigan and said she promises she let us get a picture and say hi. We waited for a few minutes and they came out, I was bursting with excitement. Gregg even joked that we came all the way from Michigan to see him! (We came to see Shai, Gregg was a bonus though!) After a little while they opened the interview up to the crowd and a few people asked Shailene and Gregg questions, including me. You can see the interview through AOL here: http://on.aol.com/video/uncovering-white-bird-in-a-blizzard-518467890
After the interview ended we walked over to Shailene and she said hello and I could tell she was in a hurry so I asked for a quick picture and she of course said yes! I then asked for a hug, and received one, and she walked away. It was amazing!
Some of my friends on Twitter did think it was abrupt for her to leave without having a conversation and here is my personal thoughts on it – I think Shailene is a very down to earth actress who does not like to be known as a celebrity. I think it almost makes her uncomfortable that she has people that love her so much they would drive 12 hours to see her. I am not at all offended by it and I know she loves everyone that loves her movies and her as an actress. But I just think it’s still unusual to her to have such a big so called ‘fan-base’, and she had another interview to get to, AND I reallized later on almost everyone in the crowd was on a laptop typing away (I am not sure why..) which she mentioned during the interview. And I know her thoughts on social media/technology is not super positive. Which I also respect. So I think the whole setting was not her thing and she probably would rather be somewhere else. Which I can’t blame her for. But again this is just my thoughts and I don’t want any controversy going on.
So over-all it was an amazing 48 hour trip and I am beyond grateful. I will always have a special place in my heart for this nature-loving, down to earth girl! Thank you everyone for reading this!
Please do not take the picture below without asking.
