Meeting Fiona Hutchison in April 2002 during the SSW at DCA was an absolute dream come true.  After being a fan of hers from the moment she appeared on OLTL (I was 10 at the time), I was finally going to meet her. I dragged my mom with me and we had a blast.

I'll skip most everything except the actual encounters with Fiona.  As soon as the doors opened, we immediately went to Fiona's autograph line.  We passed
other lines, but the only autograph I wanted was Fiona Hutchison's.  We got there and no one was in line.  She was scheduled to arrive at 12pm and because she
wasn't as popular as some of the others, the line didn't start filling up until later.  I told my mom to keep an eye on that line as I waited in line for the Q&A session which was to feature Phil Carey, Fiona, Robert S. Woods, Erin Torpey, and Melissa Archer.  

They had a screen and were showing some clips from the
show, they did a promo for May Live Week and one of the bloopers they showed was that scene of Gabrielle's daydream that Asa died and she and Max make-out next to Asa's body.  Phil Carey smiled and moved.  I guess he thought it was pretty funny that FH and JDP were getting it on next to him. LOL - After what seemed
like forever, Linda Dano went up on stage and began to introduce the guests giving some history of the actor on the show.  Yay, FH at last!  PC walked in first, then ET, then MA, then FH, then RSW.  

When Dano introduced FH, she sort of said questioningly that FH had been on since 1987.  She didn't seem sure so I thought I'd help and I yelled out yeah.  People laughed.  FH looked so great.  It was fun hearing them answer questions but before it ended, my mom yelled out my name to my horror and I had to slink out of there (I was in the second row) in front of everyone.  But I'm glad she did because I needed to get in FH's line because they had taken my name down and if they came back and I wasn't there, I would lose my place in line.

So now I'm waiting in the hot sun for Fiona to show up.  Then we saw Fiona walking towards us in the distance but her handler directed her to a private
area.  I guess she needed a break.  I was very nervous because after rooting for this woman and her character for 15 yrs (at the time), I was finally going to meet
her.  I'm still in shock when I think about it.  Then she comes out and walks toward the table.  There were about 7 people ahead of us in line and each person was
introduced by name.  I could hear FH speaking to each person and she sounded so nice and gracious.  Someone asked her about Max & Gabrielle and Fiona went on
about how she felt they would come back to each other, how they have a special connection.  But then she said, "But I think Bo and Gabrielle will have some fun
in the meantime."  I had to laugh at that because like we hadn't seen that one coming.  Then my mom's name was called and I heard Fiona say how beautiful it was but I didn't hear the rest because I was so nervous.  Then my name was called.

I handed my camera to a person who takes pictures of you with the actor.  I walk over there and get up on the little platform and then there's Fiona!!!  I smile
and she smiles this big smile and I can't say anything!!!! LOL LOL – None of my well thought out questions came to mind.  All I could think of was how I was meeting Fiona/Gabrielle.  I felt like Ralphie from A Christmas Story when he sits on Santa's lap and can't spit out what he wants for Christmas.  After what seemed like forever but was probably only a few seconds, Fiona and I laughed, and I said, "I'm in shock," or something like that.  And then she said, "Well, you better get out of the sun," and she pulled me in under the umbrella.  I forget what I said next but she said, "Let's take a picture first," so she gives me a half hug and we pose for the picture.  

After the picture, she asks me how to spell my name and she writes the autograph.  Then I tell her how I've been a fan since I was 10.  She laughs and says, "Wow, well, don't tell me how old you are."  I think I said something like I was old because she was still smiling at how long I said I'd been a fan and we were
joking with each other.  Then she said, "No, I'm old," to which I said she didn't look it, that she looked great.  Phew, at least I was able to get a conversation in there after my dumbfounded intro.  LOL – Anyway, we say how it was nice to meet each other and I take my autograph and walk away.  I get my camera, go around the security people and crowd gathered in front of the rope taking pictures and I take a stream of pictures.  Fiona was very talkative and answered all the fans' questions.  One fan seemed confused about why Gabrielle was in jail and she
explained the whole story (you all know it) but I thought it was funny because she used the first person when explaining things that happened to Gabrielle.  So funny.  

Later, we got ready for the parade portion of the day.  My mom was exhausted so I left her in the shade somewhere and lined up with a bunch of others along the parade route.  The float came out and we all screamed and took lots of pictures.  You had to be there but it was just funny how when the float passed, we all kept following it just to wave to the actors some more.  Fiona recognized me at one point and waved.  YAY!! She recognized me!!  I'm such a goof.  So that was over and I went and found my mom.  We then got ready for our reservation for lunch at the Soap Opera Bistro.  The woman at check-in said that the stars scheduled to make appearances while we were there were Erin Torpey and Fiona Hutchison!!!  Wow, another chance to see Fiona and it just worked out that way.

We get seated in the portion decorated like Asa's stables.  We order, get our food, and then ET showed up.  When she gets to our table, we talk for a while.  She was so nice.  Then we wait for Fiona to show up.  When she did, it was awesome.  She eventually came to our table and we shook hands and all said, "Hello... again."  We laughed.  Again, I didn't ask her any questions about the show.  We talk about how
unexpected the hot weather was.  Fiona said that they were being well watered down and kept slathering themselves with sunblock.  I then spoke about the
tremendous sunburn I had now developed and how we were all tired.  You know it was just mundane stuff like that but it made it all the more real to talk to her like a real person instead of the stupefied fan I was at the autograph table.  I felt really lucky to have had that chance to speak to her again.  

We walked around a bit after that in the various souvenir shops and took pictures of the other actors in their respective autograph lines.  I had been doing that throughout the day, too.  Back in front of the Bistro, Fiona was at another autograph table.  I took more pics and my mom teased me to leave her in peace. 
I told her I had waited for 15 yrs and this would probably be the last time I see her so she laughed and let me alone. LOL – I finally yelled out, "Fiona, you RULE!!"  People turned their heads to look at me and Fiona saw me and recognized me and she laughed.  She then yelled out, "How's your sunburn?"  I said it was getting worse and she told me to stay out of the sun.  We all three laughed and we waved goodbye.  *happy sigh*  She may only remember me as that girl with the
sunburn but hey, I'll take it.

So I loved my day at DCA.  Fiona was the ultimate in graciousness and class.  The only way it could've been more perfect is if James DePaiva had been there.   If
she's ever at another fan event in California, I am so there.

---Europagirl