:: FEATURES ::
Meeting Tina Wesson - Winner of the Survivor: The
Australian Outback
Scroll
down, past the images, for the story of Matthew
and I meeting Tina and the coincidences that
followed!
Tina
and Kevin
Notice Tina sporting a 'limegreen' top :)
After the presentation Tina signs our copy of the Survivor DVD that we just happened
to have with us!
Matthew
and Tina
Coincidences
:: who's stalking who?
Friday, before I went to work, I was watching
the Fox morning news and happen to catch a quick
interview they had with Tina Wesson, the winner
of Survivor: The Australian Outback. Matthew
and I have been huge fans of Survivor ever since
first watching the second season. I always found
how funny it was to be so obsessed with the show,
being that I completely dismissed the first season.
At the end of the interview they mentioned that
Tina would be speaking at a free Rheumatoid Arthritis
seminar that was going to be at the Marriot Hotel
the next day. Later that day I told Matthew about
it and we decided to attend the seminar in hopes
of seeing or possibly meeting Tina in person.
We normally do not do such a thing, except when
Bea Arthur was in town, but we both admired Tina
so much that we felt it would be worth it.
Saturday morning we got up and went downtown
to the Marriot hotel. As we walked onto the fifth
floor where it was held, I saw a picture of Tina
up on a screen with tons of decorated tables
all around inside a side room. At the tables
sat all older people which instantly made me
feel out of place. I then said to Matthew, if
he was sure that he wanted to go in. We started
to walk past the doors a bit. Right then he turned
around and yelled “Tina” as I was
looking the other way. “Well, hello guys!” There
came Tina walking right out by herself, greeting
us like we were long time friends that hadn’t
seen each other in a few years. Of course we
were so excited, but replied back like she was
a friend who we hadn’t seen in years either.
She was such a pleasant person I can’t
even begin to describe. I have never felt so
comfortable with someone I have never met, let
alone a celebrity! We then asked if we could
take a picture with her, which she granted without
hesitation. She then asked if we were going to
the seminar, which we were being that both of
us have family members that have Rheumatoid Arthritis.
After the seminar was over (by the way if you
have any questions on Rheumatoid Arthritis, I’m
now a over night expert), Matthew took our copy
of Survivor DVD up to Tina and had her sign it.
Yes, we planned in advanced. Again, a true delight
to talk with! Matthew explained to her that she
had made his week having met her, for he had
found out of a death of a friend of his that
he used to work with at CentriFUGE. Tina was
well aware of CentriFUGE for that she had worked
with a similar group. You would never know that
she had ever dealt with fame, for none of it
has gone to her head.
After leaving the Mariot we decided to stay downtown
for a bit and go shopping. As we crossed the
street sometime later, Matthew spotted Tina crossing
the street, even after she changed her outfit
and was almost impossible to spot in a crowd.
He darted over to say hi again, but someone else
yelled out "hey are you Tina from Survivor?" and
she replied politely, "why yes I am".
So Matthew didn’t get to say hi, but was
still content with what happened earlier.
Here is the scary part. About an hour later,
we started to get hungry. Well, of course, I
knew of this, well hidden, Taco Bell and food
court up on the 8th floor of this building we
were near. So, we decided to go there. We laughed
saying Tina would be there. But there would be
such a slim chance, being that its not a well
known place, and not a typical Chicago icon to
eat at. As we got off the elevator, I turned
to Taco Bell while Matthew went to Sbarros on
the other side of the food court. As I got my
food and went to sit down, I decided to sit in
another location than I normally do. As I walked
over, there sat Tina with her mother and daughter.
Instantly, I went in the opposite direction and
sat away from her waiting for Matthew to sit
impatiently. I was so worried that Tina would
think we were stalking her if she saw us. As
soon as Matthew sat down, I told him about Tina
sitting over there. After he finally believed
me after seeing her with his own eyes, we sat
very still. We could barely eat. We planned to
wait for them to finish eating and leave before
we would leave, hoping that she wouldn’t
see us. Matthew could still see her from his
vantage point and said that they were getting
ready to leave. He then started to narrate to
me their every move. Suddenly Matthew said that
they were facing right towards us, as I declined
to believe. Then walking towards us. Then, as
soon as they rounded the corner out of his vanishing
point and into mine, Tina noticed us and said
while laughing ‘hey guys... Are you following
me? We explained the pure coincidence. She then
introduced us to her mother and daughter and
we chatted some more before they headed out.
This event reminded me of the fascination I have
in coincidences, which I first started to pay
attention to after reading the Celestine Prophecy
books. Tina carried around that 'glow' that you
only see in very few people these days. I think
that is what made this experience so much fun.
I'm sure to her, it was just another day in the
life, but to us... it made our month!
As an interesting follow up and addition to this
story. Matthew waits at a downtown restaurant.
That Monday, almost expectantly, out of all people
and places to go, Tina with her daughter and
mother, went to that restaurant and was even
sat in Matthew's section. This time Tina was
following Matthew :)
