One last time would we celebrate another great season of our favorite show. One last time would we salute the one show that remained true to its roots throughout the years. One last time would we go to the JAG Fanfest. Well, actually this would be my first and my last time. It's unfortunate, but what can I say? At first I was too young to go by myself and my parents sure weren't going to go because of their lack of interest in the show. But this year it was different, this year I was able to go. And my parents made it possible for me to attend this special event that will forever remain in my memory and in my heart. I must admit that at first I wasn't sure I would be able to go. I put my name on the waiting list late August. And of course, I thought it would be too late. But it wasn't. I got an email from Kathy telling me that there were two spots open. One for my friend Cindy, and one for me. Was I happy? You better believe it. Hell ya! LOL. That's what started it all. My trip to the last and probably the most special JAG Fanfest ever.
On Friday, September 23 I drove my friend Cindy and me to Van Nuys. A one hour and a half road trip. It was awesome! Once we got there, it was impossible not to be totally sucked into the atmosphere that surrounded the place. We met people from everywhere around the world! That shows just how much the show was liked. Ratings or no ratings, demographics or no demographics, the show was a hit around the WORLD.
Well, after one year of chatting and emailing certain people on Yahoo groups, I finally got to meet a few of them in person! Pat (Miss Tiki), Vered (Witchy V), Stine, Sammy, Yaron(BRSY), Rebecca (Yoyo), and Alix. It was the coolest thing ever. It wasn't only the fact that most of them traveled thousands of miles to come to the JFF, but the fact that we got to put faces with the names. It was a great experience.
What else did we do? Well, we met the actors. Randy Vasquez (Gunny) is a totally cool guy. He talked to us as if he had known us his whole life. It was amazing. He was so surprised to learn that we watched the show. He was like "You guys are too young. What got you watching?" My response "Everything. And then there's the fact that some really hot guys are on the show." He laughed. We chatted with him and laughed, he signed some pictures for us, and took a picture with us. He was awesome. I couldn't believe it. Jade Carter (Sergi)...total sweet heart. And funny as heck!!!! Yes ladies, he's married. Collective 'awwww'. LOL. But he was such a nice guy. He asked us how long we had seen the show and he even talked to us about his wife. Really nice of him. He signed some autographs for us and even took some pictures with us, and if it weren't for my camera...you guys would be checking them out. But yeh, he is really cute! And without the Russian accent...whoa! Hot! And then there was Peter Murnik. Man. He is taller than you think. Of course when we saw him he was usually around my favorite flyboy so you couldn't tell. But he is pretty tall. And those eyes. Man. He signed some pictures for us and I asked him if he could sign one for my friend up in Canada. He said "Sure! No problem. What's her name?" All three of them were so nice and down to earth. Hallee Hirsh (Mattie), Harrison Page (Judge Morris), and John DeMita (Judge Blakely) were there as well. And they were all really cool. I didn't have a chance to meet them, but they were cool about answering questions and everything. It was really fun. Of course, the whole time while I was there...I was missing something. And I hoped, and I wished, and I wished some more that that special someone would walk in. I really wanted DJE to be there!!!!! Mind you, it was probably good that he wasn't there, otherwise I would have been a mess. Crying, laughing, hyperventilating, everything imaginable...I can see it now.
Then came time for the sad part on Saturday night. After the auction, we were told to wait for a second, that they had something for us since this was the last JAG Fanfest and JAG was over. One final salute. It went well with the theme. Hey what do you know, that was the theme. Well, we all waited and in walks a Marine Corporal dressed in his blues and his trumpet in hand. What do you think came next? Yup. He played the one and only 'Taps'. Oh man! Everyone that knows me knows that I am a cry-baby. I tend to get emotional really fast. And that did it for me. I started bawling like a baby!!! But I wasn't the only one! So I know I wasn't over reacting. But what can I say. It just hit me that that was it. JAG was no more. It would be part of history now. Always in our hearts, not to mention our televisions, and PCs. But still. It was something that really touched me. It was appropriate and very beautiful.
Our last day there. Well, we had a BBQ/Pool Party. It was cool. We all ate together and watched JAG episodes together. It REALLY felt like one big JAG family. There's something to say about so many people, from so many countries, and all kinds of ages, sitting down together to watch and share something we all had in common. ONE show did that to us. Unbelievable. But it makes you think. If one show can do that to people, what can people do to make this world better?
After we ate and watched "Washington Holiday" and "All Ye Faithful", we watched the bloopers. Some we had seen online from different websites, but some we hadn't. And they were hilarious. There was one I remember very clearly since it was DJE and Cathy Bell. It was from the episode "The Stalker". Harm and Mac walk in and Harm tells Mac to go lie down and rest while he boiled some water for tea. That was the original version. But DJE spiced it up a bit. "Why don't you go lie down and rest. I'll be there in a minute baby." That was hilarious! It was sooo cool to see them mess around with each other and make mistakes and laugh about them. It was nice. And we got to see just how much they actually liked each other. All of them. David, Cathy, Patrick, John, all of them. You could see it. All this talk about the cast not being friends...bunch of bull if you ask me. They have so much fun together and you can tell they enjoy each other's company. It was an awesome thing to see.
The saying 'All good things come to an end', it's true. After the bloopers and some talking among friends, it was time to leave. Cindy and I said goodbye to our friends and began our trip back home. I didn't want to leave. I was on the verge of tears again. But I held them back this time. It's true, all good things come to and end, but the memories that are created last a lifetime, and so will the friendships. That's why I know I walked away from the last JFF, but I did so with a heart full of memories.
Thanks!