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(Yay for my first post on SSF!)

So a few days before the concert, I had found out about the fanmeet that was going on. I'm not even sure how, but I was googling something and it showed up. I instantly realized it was meant to be that I came across it and knew right then and there that I was going to attend in hope of seeing the girls. I did a lot of research about it prior to the day, knowing that the situation was going to be chaotic and I wanted the upper hand in knowledge. Originally they were going to meet at the Hard Rock Cafe, so it was my plans of going there as soon as I could to camp out and get in, since it was limited. Last minute had changed, but it was no big deal, I just needed to figure out where this Best Buy Theater place was. I was a bit confused about what was going on at the Good Morning America and whatnot, but to me that stuff didn't matter, I just wanted to be first in line to get in.

I packed all my things in my bag to go to the concert, I wore a pink shirt just in case I wouldn't find any, and packed extra 5-hour energies, Red Bulls, and Hello Pandas, and my iPod in my bag. I knew it was going to be a long night. The concert was amazing, minus the merchandise line. All I wanted was one of those little fans of Yuri and maybe a t-shirt, I had already lost all hopes in getting a poster since they were sold out a long time ago. Finally after waiting in the merch line for so long, I got a Yuri fan (as well as a Ryeowook one for my friend), a t-shirt, and headed up to my seat. Slipping the pink SMtown t-shirt on, I knew I was set for the whole wear pink theme of the fanmeet tomorrow. I proceeded to freak out everytime SNSD came on stage at the MSG. It was amazing, and it was only the beginning.

During the last song, I snuck out before the crowd. There were a lot of people there and I didn't want to get stuck outside of the arena. Going out, I watched some camera doing some interviews, and then made my way down to Times' Square. I had to figure out my settings before the people actually got there. After walking there, I grabbed some McDonalds to last me for a while, and scouted out the place. I found out where GMA was, and apparently Best Buy theater was across the street, which made it easy to keep an eye on both crowds and both events. I figured, knowing my luck, that I wouldn't get a signed CD that they were giving out, so instead I decided to sit in front of Best Buy. (Little did I know that if I had waited over there I would have been guaranteed a stamp therefore a CD for being one of the first 50 there.) I looked around the theater, and realized that there was really only one main entrance. I even asked some people, including the guy that gave me a free hot dog before he closed his stand, and they said that that was the only entrance. I didn't want to be waiting at the wrong place.

I realized I was the first person at both places, GMA and Best Buy Theater. I figured there would be tons of people that would come, but then again, I did beat the rush from after the concert. I took a seat on the carpeted entrance to the theater and waited for other people. A few people showed up first, and asked if I were waiting but then left again, then another girl came, who was waiting to get a signed CD for her sister even though she wasn't as big of a fan as her sister was. We talked for a bit but then she decided to wait over by the GMA, to guarantee that CD. Then, this other girl came, freaking out that she saw them walking to their hotel, then left again, asking me to call her if too many people showed up. Finally, around 3am, people started staying. There were a few other people waiting in front of GMA, but only about 5 of us were really in front of Best Buy the entire night.

As the hours went by, we each took our various bathroom/food/coffee breaks. Every so often I would go check up on my friend in the other line, just to see what was going on. The sun finally started coming up, and the city got busier, we had all lasted the night out on the streets of NYC alone. The GMA was starting to get a lot more people, but it was still only the 5 original that were waiting at the theater, we figured if we kept this spot, we would be front row. After looking at the crowd over at GMA, and speaking with my friend, I realized how crazy they were about cutting, and trying to get a stamp to get a signed CD. I was determined to not allow that to happen at the theater, and knew the rush of people were going to come over and start swarming the doors.

At the theater, we decided to set up our own barricades that we found around the corner. We had no clue which way the line was going to go, so we just set them out and put up signs and directed everyone to the end of the line that way. Our plan worked perfectly! We all kept our spots and nobody tried to cut, and it went a lot more smoothly than we though. When Steve came, he was directed by the security people to move the line the opposite way, Fortunately, this went well and I kept my honorable spot; first in line. Then, it was just waiting, and waiting, all afternoon. Luckily the SSF kept us occupied by giving us out free things (Thanks again SSF staff!), but towards the end it was just so tiring, and I couldn't decide if I wanted to sit or stand. Towards the end, I just stood, and had the liberty of taking occasional bathroom breaks since I was in the front (thank goodness for that).

Then, 4:20pm came, or around there. The security people let us in, and told us to go in single file. I was first! Just this was exciting in it's own. I was the first person out of allllll of the people that were behind me. I was the first one there at 11:30pm at night, and the first one to go into the theater. After leading us in, the whole floor was empty, I could essentially choose where I sat. Naturally, I went front and center. Anxiously, I waited. The only bad part was, the security people were right in front of me, sitting, but they were still right there. Other than that, my view of them was GREAT. Yeah, there was some pushing from the back, and some people trying to cut in front of me believe it or not, but I held my ground and watched as I was literally ten feet from every single one of them.

I had made a sign ten minute before I left my house, it was a bit lame, but all it said was, "I don't know Korean, but I do know that I love SNSD!" On the back, I tried writing it in Korean, which Steve told me was wrong, so I didn't dare turn it to that side when the fanmeet was going on. They'd probably be like, what is that gurl trying to say in Korean! But nonetheless, I got quite a few smiles from Sooyoung, which made my day. A wave or two from Tiffany, Jessica, and Sunny. It was amazing.

After the end, I went up to Cara, and asked her if there were any extra signed CDs if I could have one, since I was there since 11:30pm last night. I know it was selfish of me, but it was worth a try after I had waited so long. She said we'll see, but I never heard anything of her again. I waited around the area of where they were handing out the CDs, and the security people were getting really antsy to kick everyone out. I followed the SSF staff just to see, but unfortunately, they didn't even have enough to give some of the people that deserved one. I figured that was my cue to leave, so I headed up the escalator, disappointed that I wasn't going to get a signed CD, signed t-shirt, or anything to bring home after all the waiting.

I walked up into the lobby of the theater, and for some reason decided to look back. I saw a group of people coming out of the elevator, but none of them looked like SSF, or security guards. Then she turned around. Her hood was up so it was hard to see, but I could recognize Tiffany from anywhere. Seohyun walked out after her, but went in the opposite direction. I don't even really remember what went next, or what I said to her to get her attention. But I THINK I just said, "Tiffany." Not loud, but not a whisper either. Just a statement. She came over, and I had kept my ticket from the concert in my pocket, it was just a printed out paper, but I kept it there just in case, as well as a sharpie in my back pocket. She came over to me, and I finally got out the words.

"Can I have your autograph?"

"Sure, but with what?" She replied and laughed. Then I pulled out the paper and permanent marker and gave it to her, almost like it was rehearsed and planned. I think I was shaking, I have no clue. She asked me for my name, and I told her Margaret, and she wrote it down on the paper, as well as her name. I think I told her about how I was actually just trying to get a signed CD and how I have been waiting there since 11:30 last night. At that point, I think I was just rambling, tired, and freaking out that Tiffany was right in front of me. She began walking away, but I asked if I could have a hug, and she kindly agreed, gave me a hug and began heading for the door. I stood there, frozen for a moment, and then headed towards the door myself. She was a bit confused, since she had to turn around and was probably instructed to head out the back door, but there we saw each other again, and she smiled, as I told her thank you probably for the 50th time. After heading out of the door, the security guy goes to me, "You are VERY lucky, I hope you realize that." and I replied. "I know. I know!!"

After exiting, I had no perception of time, or where I really was, I kind of just wandered around Times' Square. Not even sure where I was heading, or if I missed the train, or where I was. I was just in my own little world, silently enjoying my run-in with Tiffany, and my hug. I saw a few other fans around, wearing their pink shirts, and thought about bragging, but I didn't want to cause a scene, or have them freaking out and running. Little did I know that people were waiting around back for them to exit, but that was okay, I got my own private and personal experience. The timing was perfect, and I'm a strong believer that it was all meant to be. Everything just fell into place during that sequence of events.

I'm sorry this is so long, but I just had to ramble on about my experience. (Steve's post inspired me to!) And I want to thank SSF and their staff SOOO much for organizing this! Hopefully there will be more events in the future!