We got to the Hotel a bit frustrated because we got lost and when we went to check in they didn't have our name and said there were not any Taylor Swift people there to check in with, our hearts sank, then one of the Hotel staff said yes, the girls to check in with are on the 2nd floor. So we headed to the 2nd floor. We were greeted by 2 of the nicest girls, Mandy and Christine, and I said ,"Taylor Swift?" and they said YES! They asked our name and pulled out a folder with our name on it--Sigh of relief! They gave me forms to fill out for me and Cassidy , while I was doing that Keith asked if he could go with us and they said sure, I think we can arrange to keep you guys together but you may just have to step back for the meet and greet. I looked up with tears in my eyes and said to them REALLY! he can come with us--Thank you so much this means so much to us, (the tears were welling up and they noticed), as they were explaining everything and putting bracelets on mine and Cassidy's wrists, I needed to explain the tears, I told them that this means so much for us to stay together because it is our son's and Cassidy's brother's birthday Oct 23 and he is in heaven and he made this happen for his sister, by then they were crying with us and they shared that they each had just lost someone very special to them, Instantly Mandy grabbed a bracelet for Keith and said you are all going and put the bracelet on Keith's wrist. She asked what our son's name is and we said Alec.
It was the best feeling to know we were all going to stay together and both be able to enjoy this special moment with Cassidy. I worried about Keith being alone for the time we were away and wanted him to go, but he insisted that I go because he knows I love Taylor too. These girls worked for Big Machine Record Co./Taylor's Record co. and they could not have been any nicer to us. ( Keith also received such a nice message on his phone from Dawn at the radio station, she was checking in on us and wished us a great time, she was also so sweet and kind to us and made this happen.) We went up to our room and I wrote a note to these girls because I had to make sure they knew just how much their Kindness and Sweetness meant to us and how much it meant for us to be together on Al's Birthday. I gave them Alec's website so they could see our Beautiful Boy and his Amazingness. I dropped it off to them on our way out to eat. We had to meet in the hotel lobby at
5:15 AM, so we ate at Restaurant Charlotte and went to bed. We got in the lobby and Mandy came right up to us and gave us all a hug and stayed with us for a bit, all these people were waiting and with her group and she gave us such tender personal care. We headed to the front of Good Morning America and waited and then filed into the area in front of the stage, we were about 20 rows back. Keith was the Best Daddy- he was holding the camera in one hand and ipod in the other taking pictures and trying to get Taylor coming out, and holding Cass up so she could see. It was so exciting. Alec was all around us, just above/beside us was a gigantic ad with the date October 23 and a Huge #23 (for the show Don't trust the B in Apt. 23). There was so much kindness and love all around us. After Taylor's amazing performance, we waited outside the side of GMA to go in and meet her. A girl came up to me and asked if I would give her letter to Taylor because she was supoose to meet her, She said we looked like nice people, I said of course -(one act of kindness down). We went inside and there was Taylor just 20 feet from us and looking so sweet. A man came over to us and said she needs to rest her voice because she is on David Letterman tonight, so she can not talk, but you can talk to her and she'll nod and smile to acknowledge your words. Then he looked at Cass and he said I don't know if you play guitar but would you like a guitar pick? And he gave her a pick with Taylor's picture on it, Cass does have a guitar and knows how to play a bit. He was so kind and we did not see him handing picks to everyone-- Cass got some more special Love. And we also think it may have been Taylor's Dad because she said on her interview the day before that her dad loves to hand out her guitar picks to people. It was our turn to meet her and get a picture, she said to each of us in a whisper ,"Thank you So Much For Coming" in the most sincere and humble way, she hugged Keith and then hugged Cassidy and said something sweet to her and then hugged me, then we posed for a picture, we thanked her so much and told her this means so much, she pointed to a gift I had in my hand from Cassidy to give to her and a letter from Bryanna and one from the girl outside and she whispered, "Thank you So Much For That", I forgot to hand it to her, but she so beautifully acknowledged it and was so truly appreciative for it. I already knew she was the sweetest kindest full of goodness and Love girl, yet it was confirmed for all of us. It was a Magical meeting a Magical experience and Cassidy has beeen over the moon with excitement and awe since. Before we left, we made sure to thank Mandy and Christine from our whole hearts for all they did for us and they were so gracious and lovely , it was obvious that Alec touched them , our story touched them and they truly cared with their Big Hearts.
After that Keith and Cass could not get out of NY fast enough, but I said why don't we eat here at the restaurant Mandy and Christine (Taylor's girls) recommended, 'The Red Flame' before we go. So we did and while sitting there I saw Mandy , Christine and the other girl's that work for the record co. eating a few tables away. They walked by our table to leave and said Bye to us with kindness in their eyes and we thanked them again for everything. When we were done we asked our waitress for our check and she said it was all set, the girls at that table paid for us and she asked if we saw them-- we said we did. This extra act of kindness was just amazing, we could feel the love of strangers and Al's Love surrounding us. It was so heartwarming, touching, humbling and Amazing.
There was a sign in the parking garage that we parked in that said 23 bicycle capacity, and another that said maximum car capacity is 423. Al was everywhere
Throughout the day it was so bittersweet, here we were feeling excitement and it was Alec's Birthday it felt wrong, I had to keep reminding myself that Alec made this happen and he wants us to feel happy and he wants us to enjoy Cassidy, and that would pull me out of it. But when we got home and we did not have our Birthday Boy here with us to celebrate it really hit us hard.
Later I took Cassidy to Walgreens because she had $20- Papa money and really wanted to buy a Taylor Swift shirt and bracelet. The total cost $19.23! Plus there were 5 --#23's on her receipt (Al always gives us 23's on our receipts but this was the most 23's on one receipt yet). Then when Cass was in bed and we were saying good night, she had downloaded Taylor's new album earlier onto her Ipod and was waiting for one last song to load-- she said, Dad can you put that last song on, and Keith did. When she went to her Playlist of Taylor Swift songs, she had a total of 23 of her songs. It was a beautiful gift from Al and a beautiful Amazing ending for Cassidy from Alec on his Birthday to her. The END
Below are some pictures of the signs we got from Alec