In honor of Justin Bieber’s upcoming concert in Chicago on April 22-23, I’d like to share a story for all of us “beliebers” who are way TOO excited for his return. The last time Bieber came to Chicago was in October 2012… FOUR YEARS AGO.
Is it just me or are you ready to drop your panties? JUST KIDDING, but seriously… I CAN NOT WAIT.
The start of my sophomore year of high school, I came home one day to my mom being super excited. It was strange and unusual, but I knew she was up to something. I just had no clue it would be something THIS HUGE. My mom gets her video recorder out all giddy and tells my sister and I to sit down. I couldn’t help but think, “Did she finally win at poker?” or “Is someone coming to town?”
My mom has always known just how much I’ve loved Justin Bieber. I’ve been through the entire fan mania phase, the puberty phase, and his more recent bad boy drama. I’ve stuck by my man through it all even when my little heart broke after he started dating Selena. To paint you a picture (much like I’m sure you did) I had posters everywhere. In my room there wasn’t anywhere you could look or walk and Justin wasn’t there. I was apart of the online fan club which gave me an official Justin Bieber membership. I even bought his, at the time, biography of how he came to fame. I saw every movie, said the word “baby” more times than I can count, and ultimately referred to Justin by his first name. I said it like we knew each other on a personal level.
I promise I’m not this crazy anymore… I just have a deep routed appreciation for the Biebs and his new sexy bod. NBD.
Skipping to the good part: My mom suddenly announces to my sister and I that she had gotten us close to front row seats at JUSTIN BIEBER’S CONCERT ON OCTOBER 22nd. As you can imagine, my sister and I went through some phases. Phase one: we were in shock. We couldn’t believe what she was saying was actual truth. It took about thirty minutes before we could comprehend what it was. Phase two: overjoyed. Then when the truth had set in place, tears just start falling from our eyes. Next thing my mom knows she has a video tape full of her girls crying hysterically because they’re going to meet the actual JUSTIN BIEBER.
Fast forward, it’s the day we’re about to meet Justin. It hadn’t hit us yet, but let me tell you, it was about to.
We’re waiting in line and as we enter past the curtain, waiting there I see Justin as he says, “Hello Ladies”.
Our hearts melt and I’m pretty sure I experienced shock as I was in the presence of someone I had come to idolize. We both replied in unison, “Hi”, and I’m pretty sure you could tell we were star struck. My sister and I approached and I couldn’t stop staring at him.
My first actual words to him were, “Is it really you?” and he laughed a little.
I can’t really account for what happened next because I only remember phases of what happened.
But I do know I asked him for a hug and he said sure. Then he gave one to my sister. At this point I’m dumbfounded by his very presence.
(For those of you who don’t know, at the time Justin had a pet hamster on the road with him as he traveled. All over his Instagram was his pet hamster that he only let a few people see during his meet and greets. This will make sense when I tell you what happened next.)
Credit: Billboard, Justin Bieber’s 19 Most Memorable Instagram Photos
Then, Justin asked me if I would like to hold his hamster. I was like okay and at that moment my eyes couldn’t stop staring at the hamster because I COULDN’T BELIEVE HE WAS LETTING ME HOLD IT. I, EMILY LONG, WAS HOLDING JUSTIN BIEBER’S HAMSTER.
I couldn’t stop staring for so long that while I was in this state, somehow my sister and him were getting ready to take a picture! I didn’t realize this until after they took it. This explains why I’m staring at the hamster in my hand rather than the picture we were about to take. I know, how stupid was I?
I do remember, however, his arm went around me. I couldn’t handle all the excitement! Next thing I know he asks for his hamster back and I just stared at his face. I looked really close and I can vividly remember seeing the concealer he was wearing. Next, the security tried asking my sister and I to leave because our time was almost up, but like I am, I asked for another hug before we left and he did.
I tried to not let the moment end and asked the only thing I could, “What basketball position do you play?” (I knew on his free time Justin liked to play basketball. I played too so, yet another reason why we belonged together. Duh.) His response was “point guard”. Of course, he was all smiling. Next thing I knew we were on our way out and the concert was going to start in about forty minutes.
That day easily could be considered one of the best days of my life. I may not be as Bieber obsessed as I was, but I’ll always have this feeling of love for my crazy Bieber infused childhood. I met Justin Bieber and all I can remember was what a great feeling he gave me and my sister that day. He was awesome, amazing, and his perfect smile is still embedded into my brain. I can’t wait to relive those few moments when I see Justin April 22 for his concert and hope you all are too.