CLARE KRAMER
NORBRECK, BLACKPOOL - CON
29th APRIL - 2nd MAY 2004

She remembered me - She made my week-end...

I've had friends who went to cons before me and it always surprised me who they tended to be excited on meeting. Cause I had always been sure that it was the main cast who it was most exciting to meet, but then again I hadn't met Clare. She's gorgeous, she's exciting and she's genuinely nice. When she smiles to you you can feel that it's real, she's there a hundred percent. And I'm really glad I got to meet her allready that Thursday.

Buffy and the people behind it, has and will always have a special place in my heart. And to give something back to the people who were involved in what has been the greatest influence of my life, I wanted to make them portraits, at least to as many people I could. Clare was one of them. So when I found out she was allready signing that Thursday I got a bit nervous as I hadn't brought my sketch folder, but lady luck was smiling at me, cause when I queued up for the autograph session we were given queue tickets and told that they weren't coming for another hour, which gave me plenty of time to run back to the appartment I was staying at and retrieve the folder.

Back at the Norbreck I hurried and asked the Stewards about in what ways I could get the drawing to Clare, they told me that due to such things would hold up the queue you're not allowed to personally give something to the guests, as the thank yous and such would only make it take longer time for others to wait. I understood and accepted their terms, but this meant I had to hurry and retrieve a piece of paper or a post-it note. I found the second of the two and scribbled down a little not to stick to the drawing.

"Dear Clare,

love your work,
made you this drawing,
hope you like it

Guro"

When I reached the suite I reached the drawing to the Steward in charge who gently placed it at a gift table. When I reached her table I passed her the diary page I wanted signed and the photo. She was smiling at me.

CLARE: "Are you excited about the weekend?"

I don't remember what my reply I think it was something like yes or that I nodded. It's kind of hazy, but I remember that she was in a cheery mood, this woman was for real, that's for sure :)

I felt that I had a great experience with her just like this, but I had no idea what lady luck had decided for me. I was waiting for a friend of mine's mom who was in Clare's autograph session Stewarding to finish her duty, cause us Stewards were to meet in the dealer room afterwards for a group information meeting. As I was waiting the door opened and I saw Sean, who arranges Starfury conventions exit the suite carrying my drawing. I think something just took over me or something, but I went up to him.

ME: "Did she like it"

Sean had been looking down at the moment so he looked up at me, first a bit silent, then his eyes kinda widened.

SEAN: "Oh my God, she loved it, just wait here, she wants to say hi"

I was speachless, to say the least, but I remained there, who was I to miss this sort of opportunity. So there I was standing outside the suite, my back against the wall, kinda drifing into lala-land. I was almost completely gone, when I heard a voice next to me.

CLARE: "Are you the artist?"

As I was kinda out of it, I've yet to completely remember word by word what was said, at least enough to repeat it here. But Clare had continued with telling me that she loved it and that it was going to end up framed at the wall in her office. I got a big warm hug from her and she asked me if I was an artist. I answered that it was mostly fanart at the moment. She thanked me one more time before she headed to the green room, and I, now knowing that the guests had "left the building" so to speak, I entered the suite, locating my friends mom, shaking like a leaf, of pure excitement.

I have to admitt I was really active in both of Clare's talks, I just remembered more and more questions I wanted to ask, and I found out later that she had noticed that. She waved to me when I was up at the mike one of the times, I thought it was awesome. Later the same day she was scheduled to do a photoshoot, one that I had bought tickets to and she remembered me from the to the mike and back again.

CLARE: "Good Questions"

She put her arm around me and I around her and smiled to the photographer.

It was the next evening that my photo came back from developing after to have been a trip to Clare's room. Clare insisted on signing all the photos that people took with her, which was just awesome of her.

I gave the people at the desk my ticket and they retrieved my photo fro mthe envelope and I thought I was gonna die or something. Not only was it signed, like all others, but right before the autograph it said:
"Thank you for the artwork"

1700 people there, and she remembered ME

I spotted Clare after the closing ceremony and went to chat with her. I just needed to thank her for the comment. I mean for me I had allready been thanked by her personally and just finding this comment on the photo. It was like she meant to tell me she remembered me as well as writing a thanks. She greeted me with a hug. I thanked her, she again thanked me. It was a big thanking-thing. And we talked for a little while, I mentioned it being my birthday, she wished me a happy birthday, asked me how old I was now, when I said 20, she said it was a really good age. Couldn't agree more.


Photos of her from her and Nickolaus's talk:

Photos of her from her and Juliet's talk: