Saturday, June 19th 2004. I recieved a tip from my world wide network of Xena contacts that Lucy Lawless, Xena herself, would be the celebrity starter at the Los Angeles Frontrunners Pride Run 2004, in West Hollywood, the very next day. I had met Renee O'Connor last summer and had always wanted to meet Lucy while wearing my Xena costume. But it was Fathers Day, and I had obligations to people. Screw 'em, this is Lucy! I was going!! With my faithful photographer in tow, I arrived at the starting point for the race a few hours early to get parking, then hung around waiting for something to happen. Lucy was to start the race at eight. About 7:30 a bunch of us Xena fans were talking to Sharon, from the fan club, who casually mentioned that Lucy had just walked right by us!!! I quickly looked around, and sure enough, standing not twenty feet away signing an autograph was Lucy Lawless! She was blonde, and thinner than I had ever seen her, just beautiful with that amazing smile that gave you tingles when ever she turned it on you. I could tell as I approached what a warm and friendly person she was, and how much she loved her fans.
I went up to her and said "Hi Lucy, I'm Norma. You look great!" "You too." She said. She gave me a big smile and a hug, and then began checking out my costume, touching a kneepad and the skirt. "This is amazing (The same word Renee used!), it looks just like the real thing!" I could have died happy right then. As we posed for pictures Lucy
whispered to me "Thank goodness you wore a Xena costume, I was afraid I was going to disapoint everyone by not wearing mine." We chatted a bit more, and she signed two Xena pictures for me. In one of those she was sitting in front of Argo laughing, and she commented "I don't have my Xena face on in this one, I'm Lucy here." I replied I liked it that way. The other picture was of Xena and Gabby, and she said "Renee will be around later, I'll leave room for her to sign, too." YIPES!! I never did see Renee, don't think she made it.
We hugged one last time, then I moved back and let others have a chance with her. She happily chatted and signed for another 30 minutes at least. She was like a regular person, who seemed grateful for her fans. I moved back in and got her to sign an event poster, but just when she was going to sign my (toy) chakram, one of the event people tried to drag her away. Lucy, always the sweetheart, grabbed my chakram and refused to budge until she had signed it "To Norma Love , Lucy Lawless" I wasn't sure if she could be as sweet as Renee was, but she WAS! What a pair of sweethearts!
The next hour was taken up by Lucy being introduced, giving a little speech ("This is my Xena posse up front, who show up where ever I go. You'll notice they are not runners"), then going out into the street and starting the race (with a megaphone), and afterward giving away some awards (She got a little irked when not a single person whose number she called was there. "Are you all in the loo?" she asked, getting a laugh).
During the race she posed for still more pictures with people (She is still the same person who stayed and signed 1600 autographs at the first Hercules/Xena con) and I talked to her for the last time. I asked her if there was going to be a Xena movie, and she said "There is no movie."
When I mentioned the announcement at the last Xena Con she replied "Thats all just speculation." At one point she was standing by the stage all by her self, having signed everthing for everyone who asked. No one bothered her. It was getting late, and I decided to leave while Lucy was on stage. I knew she would be in the parade but after all the up-close contact that held no interest to me. I was on cloud nine, this could not have been better. Having now met both Lucy and Renee, and having posed with them both in my costume, I can't think of anything to top this. HMMMMMMM, wonder where Sorbo hangs out these days. Got the best, time to get the rest.
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