It all started when I logged onto DH.net Tuesday night (7-26-05) and read that Hayden will be arriving at Circus Circus Reno on Wednesday night. I was filled with excitement because Reno is only about 2 hours from where I live! But, it was already 11pm at night and I dragged my mom into my room to read about this article. She said, “Too bad we don’t have a reliable car with AC to make it up to Reno.” The weather report said that Reno was to be about 100F that day. So then I called my bf, who was sleeping by now about going, but he said he couldn’t get off work early enough to go with me. Then I started to think of who else would go with me, but everyone has some obligation, whether it was school or work: no one had the time. Then, I signed onto AIM and my friend Kim was online. So I asked her what she was doing the next day and she said, she was free after 2pm! Lovely! So she said, “If no one wants to go with you, I’ll go.” Isn’t that the sweetest thing ever? I told her I’d totally buy her dinner and pay for gas! Kim didn’t even know who Hayden was.
So the next day, I seen Kim on AIM again she said would go. We left town about 2:30pm and finally arrived at Reno around 5pm. We went to Fifth Street to see if they had closed off the street yet. They were barely putting up the barricades and hardly anyone was in sight. The red carpet event was supposed to start at 7pm. So then Kim and I went into the casino to gamble for a bit. At 6pm, we journeyed back to the red carpet and there was a small crowd gathered so we went to stake out our spot on the carpet. I was surprised that the red carpet had no barriers to it. We could openly walk across it without any problems but when the event started, the security guards asked us not to cross the red carpet anymore. I thought that was nice. They trusted the audience enough to allow us all stand up close.
So 7pm rolled around and Hayden was about the third car to arrive. He arrived sitting passenger is his yellow Lamborghini rolled down the window and waved to the crowd. Kim was able to get a good shot of him in his car waving. So Hayden arrived on time and they parked his car on the closed portion of the street. After about 10 minutes, he began to make his way toward the red carpet. He stopped here and there to sign autographs. I was already holding out my GQ magazine and sharpie ready for him and as he was within about 4 feet of me, he made a complete 180 and went to the other end of the carpet to sign an autograph and take a picture with a 6 year old boy with his family. I was saddened, but I was also happy that Hayden chose to make a young boy happy versus me. I thought that was sweet of him and I was happy I was able to see him on the red carpet at this point, I was lucky enough to have had this chance. After the picture, Hayden proceeded further along the carpet and eventually made his way into the hotel. I thought I had missed my chance, but I got over it and was a happy as can be. Kim and I then waited for more celebrities to arrive.
More celebrities came and went: Dennis Rodman, Ryan Dunn, and others I unfortunately didn’t know enough about: models, businessmen, musicians, etc. So, as the red carpet event was winding down, it was about 9:30pm now. The Reno Police Department began dismantling the barricades they had set up for the road blocks, so this meant the event was nearly over. Kim and I then went to take some pictures of Rodman and Hayden’s Lamborghinis.
Then, we went over toward the VIP party area just in case we would be able to spot anybody. As we were approaching I noticed someone I thought was part of Hayden’s team wearing a race track suit with the Star Wars logo on it. So I was totally paying attention to that guy just to see if Hayden was around or not. So then Kim grabs my arm and tugs at it saying, “Isn’t that him??” HAYDEN WAS STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!! He was literally 2 feet in front of me signing an autograph for a security guard so his back was turned towards me. So then I grabbed my sharpie and GQ magazine with Hayden’s cover on it and when he was done with the security guard I tapped his shoulder, “Sorry to bother…” I said. Hayden replied, “Oh, you’re no bother…” and smile. He was very kind and polite. Then I asked, “So how was the ride over?” He said, “Great! It was fun! Thanks.” Then Kim interjected by asking if he would mind taking a picture with me and then with her. He said, “Sure.” As we were posing, I felt something warm on my left lower back. Hayden had put his hand there on my back! Of course he was a total gentleman. I was surprised at how “cool” he was being about it all. Then it was Kim’s turn to take the picture. They posed and she snuggled up against him because she was tinier than me. Haha. So as we were finishing up Kim and I said our thanks to Hayden, he began to walk away and I said, “Best wishes to you!” and Hayden turned and looked me in the eyes and smiled saying, “Thanks, to you too!” and walked away toward the card tables with a few buddies.
He was very kind and polite during this whole encounter. As soon as he left I had to take a deep breath because I don’t think I was breathing when he was around. Kim said I was totally cool when I was talking to him and said I had guts just for talking to him, even though it was brief. It was the best day in Reno ever! I can’t believe I just stumbled into him at the casino. In my opinion, I am much happier running into him there than to have had him sign the autograph for me on the red carpet. The young boy got his picture and autograph and I got to talk to him, take a picture, and an autograph. We are all happy people! So after this encounter Kim and I were STARVING, having not eaten since we arrived and by this time it was nearly 10 pm so we headed to eat and gamble some more before we finally left for home about midnight. It was awesome!