Ok … I arrived at FLANDERSEXPO, Gent at noon exactly, every step was harder than the one before, my heart beating so fast and with hands sweating I manage to give the man at the entrance my ticket … With breaking voice I asked: “Excuse me … Where’s Mr. Dirk Benedict’s stand?” Look for him over there (pointing a big area)! That’s the actor’s area …
With almost no control of my trembling body, I push myself to my destination and suddenly I see a huge beautiful poster of him hanging from the wall (The one Zilfstar won) … Before I hit the flour, I realize he isn’t there … I walk very slowly but as fast as my legs allowed me to his desk and notice a young assistant who immediately tells me: “Mr. Benedict is on a smoking break” Do you want to visit another actor/actress meanwhile? I said: No … I’m here only for Mr. Benedict, You see I’ve been waiting for this moment for 20 years and I have traveled for more than 48 hours straight only to be here at this moment to get to know him … So I’ll wait for him a little bit more, not big deal for me. The man tells me: You’ve been traveling for over 48 hours? Where are you from? I’m from very far away … Venezuela, South America … Man looks shock … Then I was reading a note on the wall: 20 Euros per autograph, so I tell the young man “I want 3 autographs, which would be 60 Euros, right? And He says that’s right Madame and I handle him the money …
Just seconds after that, I had the real “Mr. Dirk Benedict” standing in front of me … only separated for that small table … I cannot put that feeling in words … It’s been by far the most surrealistic moment of my life … There He was with those deep lovely blue eyes, incredible handsome and at the same time so earthly, soft and humble … No trace of insufferable “diva” on him … Well … now it’s official … I have no words, not even one … Not in English nor Spanish … The tide in my throat, my body entirely shaking, my hands sweating … Very far away I hear a voice … It’s the assistant saying: “Mr. Benedict, you have a fan waiting for you, she made all her way from Venezuela to Gent …” He screams ¿¡ VENEZUELA ¡? How come? Who is it? Who came from Venezuela? I was there standing in front of him … unable to say … “I did” …
With an enormous difficulty I began to pronounce some jibba jabber and stammering some words in the worst English you can imagine … “I did Mr. Benedict …” I started traveling on Thursday morning to get here Saturday at noon … Then I tell him my entire journey from my city to the capital, then connection to Paris, then Brussels and finally Gent by train … And not only that !!! The worst part ! I was doing so all by myself, all alone … This was one of the sweetest moments for me because He was visible concerned … He asked me several times but are you all right? OMG !! Are you sure you’ll be ok all by yourself? I kind of feel guilty for you took such a risk to be here to get my autograph!
We talk for several more minutes and then realizing his line was getting long I handle him the picture I made specially printed for this moment … Of over 1000 pics and screencaps I have of him I picked up the one he’s with His baby son George laying on his chest exactly over His heart … Now He was shock with emotion … Now He was the one who couldn´t say a word … He kept watching the picture for several more seconds until he softly said: “see how beautiful he looks … I don’t have this picture …” I said what??? Come on !! He repeted: No … I don’t have it … Then I replied well ok I’ll give it to you! No no no …. No way! You came from so far to have your picture signed I can’t take it … Please … I insist!! I have others with me … Then He stands up from his chair and said OMG ! I’ll give you a hug! You deserve a hug!! And addressing to his assistant He said: “Give her money back” …. Awww … So sweet …!!
Immediately, He approached to me and gave me the most special hug I have had in my entire life and I’m not exaggerating a word!! I don’t know what it meant to him … Perhaps nothing, perhaps another fan’s hug but I’m telling you now with heart in hand it meant everything to me … his embrace is warm, sweet and honest … just exactly what I needed being so far away and lonely … I hope He didn’t notice but I was completely sank with feeling, tears in my eyes and my body shaking all over again I put my hands in my face trying very hard to catch my tears and the only words I could say were: Oh Dirk … Thank you …
In his arms I felt secure as home … In his arms I let go all my fears of making such a trip alone. In these few seconds I remembered like flashes in my mind my complete journey there … I remembered having been treated like a drug dealer in my own country for the fact that I was traveling alone, the fact that I have bought all my plane tickets when the travel agency sold me a TRAIN connection Paris-Brussels and I was clueless about the train station in Paris! For Christ sake! It was my first time in France and Belgium!, I remembered having arrived to the Hotel in Brussels after 2 days of travel and they told me: We don’t have any reservation under your name …! I remembered the fact that in my Country with Chavez government they give you a specific amount of money to travel and you can’t spend one more dime or you go to jail …. And with his sweet embrace I left all my fears behind and truly felt “It was worth it, everything I was through and more worth this hug”
At that moment on Saturday I was so overwhelm with emotion I couldn´t say it to him … But on Sunday before crying (me, of course) for the good bye I managed to tell him: “I want to thank you Dirk, from the bottom of my heart … For making this experience really worth it … Because back home nobody support me to do this trip. Everybody, family and friends, they told me: you can’t be serious about this … You can´t take such a risk and spend so much money only to get to know this person … And when I’m back home I will tell them: I’m incredible glad I did because it was better than I ever imagined … And he said YES !!! That’s what I wanted it!
I´m going to leave this here … I don´t really want to bore you … But I do hope my little experience can encourage anybody with doubts to get to know him to do so. Do not hesitate if you have the opportunity, Dirk is not only a gentleman but a very charming and kind human being.
Dirk, if you read this, thanks again, knowing you have been the experience of my life and I will treasure it until the last of my days. I pray The Lord we meet again … Someday … Somewhere … Until then, all my love to you and your beloved ones …
Emily Gabriela
To Emily, Bless you for noticing, Love, Dirk Benedict
Re: Fall 2011 Appearances
Beverly Perkins
) (so my count of having talked to Dirk is no 6 
)
(DB signing first book)
...Not sure I'd be as brave!?! I'm very happy and thankful to hear that you made it without problems and that your time with Dirk was soo very special!!!...
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