Well ladies I hope you don't mind reading another report for L5...

Let me tell you sitting there waiting for the ladies to come on the stage felt like a life time... Janina was first and she was so full of life up there... telling us that she would go to different conventions and she knows how we all felt sitting there... Rachel came out second... and for the life of me I don't remember what she said... I think I was thinking ahead... I knew Laurel was next... and next she was... she came out and the place was going crazy... standing ovations and screaming... she kept trying to get a word in but it was useless... the crowd would not let up... she said a few things and as she finished she said... “I want to all to meet my girl friend... BETTE PORTER”...

Well Jennifer came out... if she wasn't scared... just think watching about 500 screaming women running up to the stage... the applause was deafening... the cheers... banging on the tables... what an awesome experience... when she was finally able to speak... she said “Laurel told me I should come to a convention... I would be among friends”... and again the crowd cheered... I think about half of the ladies never left the stage area... it was a sight I will never forget...

Off to the Meet and Greet...

Janice ran ahead and saved seats... and I had it planned to have the empty seat between me and Janice... but as fate would have it... I’m not that lucky... but Janice was... I also had a little 4 year old, Kay on my lap... (Her mom's didn't have a gold ticket and we all have seen Kay grow up these last few years)

Ok the ladies were now walking in... they split up, walking to different areas of the room... we were the lucky table... we had Jennifer first... she sat down and immediately she was shaking every body's hand... she looked at Kay and asked who she was... I told her about her mom's and that Kay had a gift for her... But she doesn't speak English... she speaks French... so Kay walked over to Jennifer and my heart melted... Jennifer was speaking French to her... she then asked where we were all from... it went around the table I said New York and Marsha next me said Arizona... Jennifer said oh I’m sorry... (That’s a Republican State)... now I knew what I was about to say would make Jennifer remember me all weekend... So I said it... Now wait a minute... I’m a Republican... she then said... WHAT... HOW CAN YOU BE A REPUBLICAN AND COME TO THESE CONVENTIONS... I was smiling from ear to ear... I said I’m a little to the LEFT... some one then asked a question... and Jennifer said... "NO WAIT A MINUTE I NEED TO TALK TO THE REPUBLICAN"... she asked me to give her an example... I said Jennifer just sitting here at a table with you... I’m lucky I know my name... but I did say I was a Hillary supporter... others asked questions and she was told it was time to move to the next table... which she didn't... she took her time... she looked at the gentleman sitting right next to me and with those eyes and smile she asked him... "AND WHY DO YOU WATCH THE SHOW" I don't think he answered her... she was relaxed now, she said "Small groups like this I can handle"...

Jennifer went to the table next to us, with a bunch of our friends sitting there... when she finished... I yelled over…"We had her first ... you ladies were sloppy seconds"

It was now that I BEGGED Janice to change seats with me... I wanted to sit next to Laurel... and after promising her my first born (who is 30) she let me sweat and then changed with me... plus teasing me about talking too much... I apologized to the rest of the table and 5 out of the 8 of us said thank God I was talking... they had no saliva to speak…

I think Janina was next... as she sat down I said so ready to teach us about "Circles"… every one laughed... she was full of life... so happy to be there... you could tell she was going to enjoy the weekend to the fullest... her mom was also there... and as Janina got up I asked her to tell her mom to come and sit with us... she was standing by a wall just watching... she came over and she was all smiles... I told her I’m a new grandma and of course a picture came out... and as she was looking... Janina was getting up from the other table and she yells over to her... "See this is what I want... GRANDCHILDREN"... Janina looked at her and said... "WELL NOT FROM ME"...

Rachel was next... and as she sat down she looked at Kay and said where are her Mom's (She knew them by name) I wish I could remember what we asked Rachel... (But the truth be know I was watching where Laurel was and trying to figure out how long it would be before she got to our table... sorry)

Now we were waiting... we did watch Jennifer across the way... the table she was going to all said SHHHH here she comes... and Jennifer said... SHHHH... I know you are all talking about me...

Laurel was getting close... and finally she was coming to our table... as she sat down she made eye contact with me and said... "Oh Hi"... I like to think she remembered me from L2... so I’ll go with that...

After a few minutes... Janice said to me... Mary give Laurel her gift...

I said Laurel I have something for you... and please can you open it now... she said Ok and as she was taking it out of the bag I said... "12 years ago I adopted my daughter"... well her eyes filled up with tears... I continued... "and a good friend had a pillow similar to this made for me... so I had one made for you... I had a poem written on it... and I wish I could give credit to the author... but I don't know who wrote it...

"Not flesh of my flesh
Nor bone of my bone
But still my own
Never forget for a single minute
You didn't grow under my heart
But in it"

Well the tears were there... I said I’m sorry I didn't mean to make you cry... she said these are "Happy Tears" I tell my daughter all the time that she grew under my heart but her baby sister grew in it... the first time I saw her I fell in love with her...

I then asked for a hug... and it felt like she flew into my arms...

I was on cloud 9 for the rest of the weekend... (My second hug from Laurel)

I also told her at some point that I told Jennifer I was a republican... she laughed...

After the Meet and Greet...

We all talked for a while... who could sleep... I was on a high and I didn't want to come down... and trying to sleep that night... well all I could think about was the Meet and Greet and day 2 of the convention...

Day 2...

Lining up... OMG... I was never more grateful for walking with a cane... I was allowed to go into the hall first... so front row center... that’s where we sat for all of the Q and A's...

First call for pictures…

First picture was with Rachel... I had all intentions of asking her if I could put my arm around her but she pulled me into her, but I still asked and she said of course (With that British accent)...

I was then going to get in line for Jennifer and Laurel’s picture... the line was long but moved fast… They were both seated and as I was sitting down between them I said... Hi Jennifer, Laurel... remember me... your favorite Republican... Laurel cracked up and Jennifer turned to me and said... "I was thinking about you all night... HOW THE HELL ARE YOU A REPUBLICAN" and again Laurel was laughing... when we all stopped we turned and had the picture taken...

Next the Q and A's... and if you think I can top Crissu... think again... she did one hell of a job reporting... a must read... also a must read is Jobadge… jjll also posted her accounts… and I know bette&tinaforever will be posting… look for them…

Later it was time for the autographs... I had my L-WORD.COM shirt for being a Fan Fiction Award Winner... as I was waiting in line I saw another Award Winner holding her shirt... Jennifer was first to sign... I placed the shirt in front of her and she said “WOW”... I said please write something... anything... she thought for a minute... and then wrote...

Mary "Maybe someday a beautiful Democrat will save your soul"... (Smiley face) Jennifer Beals... (And you can actually read her name... as we all know when she signs anything... who could read it...)... I thanked her for that and also for the weekend... and asked her to shake my hand which she did... and that smile... believe me it goes right to your soul...

I started walking towards Laurel... (Thank God for my cane... I don't know how I was walking)... Laurel smiled and again it went right to my soul... she signed my pictures and I placed my shirt in front of her... she read Jennifer’s and giggled... she was in deep thought... and then wrote on my shirt...

Mary- From one Adoptive Mother to another Adoptive Mother--- We are always connected -- I wish you and your family the best--- Laurel Holloman

Well now I was getting choked up... I asked her to shake my hand and she did with both hands and her smile went through me again...

By now I was a puddle...

Rachel was next... she signed my Shirt at the last convention... I commented to her at L4... “Rachel, I just introduced your character into my story”... she said it’s about Bloody Time... I said I write you the way I love you on the show... A BITCH... she laughed... so she wrote ... To Mary... From the BITCH... Rachel Shelly

Janina was next... her mom was there also and she again said take care of that grand baby... and then looked at Janina... "I told you don't look at me" she signed my shirt... she was intrigued... she said she will have to check out the Fan Fictions sites...

Day 3...

Pictures with Laurel and Rachel... again we were seated... I asked how they were holding up... they were both tired... when that was done I had to go back in line... picture with Laurel alone... as I was standing in line... Rachel was sitting at a side table... I told her thanks for standing in the pictures with us... I also said I under stand why Jennifer and Laurel choose to sit... all it takes is one “STUPID” person to spoil it for the rest of us... she agreed... and she said you’re very welcome... Laurel was sitting and I said “Hey how you doing”... (In my best Brooklyn accent)... she said Ok... I then asked her to please lean into me for the picture and she said sure and she did... I have to say that picture doesn't look like we are sitting... it came out GOOD... as I got up I said... hey Laurel... "ONE MORE SLEEP" she smiled "I know I can't wait I miss my babies"... (She talks to her daughter every night on the computer and every day they count backwards... so she knows she has to sleep 1 more time and mommy and daddy come home)

Later on it was Jennifer’s picture... the line was LONGGGGGGG... but it did go fast... my turn... she was sitting... I again talked... (Try to stop me... I think not)... I said... So Jennifer... How's your weekend going... "Not bad... but I really haven't done much”... (again that smile... my God... thank God for my cane)...

THE Q and A's... were not long enough... but very entertaining... and the auction... I was waiting for a picture of Laurel to be auctioned off... but there was none... (I also told Janice if I bid more then 2000 pounds... sit on my hands)... I did bid on the picture of Jennifer... but I knew it was going to go high... I stopped at about 1200 pounds... reality must of hit me... besides I thought Laurel's picture would be next... it wasn't... but I am so glad Jobadge won that picture... it was so cute when Jennifer looked at the crowd and said... "BETTE IN LEVI's"... the look on her face... it was priceless...

The closing ceremonies... they were sad... because we all knew the weekend was now over...

Janina was first saying her goodbyes and thank yous... I think we all fell in love with her last weekend...

Rachel... she is a classy lady... it was a pleasure seeing her again...

Laurel... OMG... she had the place on their feet... cheering... she couldn't get a word in... and when she did you could tell she was also over whelmed... she thanked everyone for sharing certain stories with her... and some yelled out... "WE LOVE YOU LAUREL" And Laurel we do love you... we love all you bring to these conventions... we thank you... and I pray you attend every convention…

Jennifer... again... OMG... the cheers... she also had to wait to speak and she too was feeling the moment... finally when the noise level died down... she said her thanks and this weekend was amazing... she was very emotional all weekend and she was teary-eyed and I credit "Crissu" with the next few lines... thank God you remembered this...

"Jennifer also said to remember that politics is a lot like sex - if you want something, you have to ask for it, if they’re not doing it right you’ve got to speak up and show them and if you still don’t get what you want, then there is nothing wrong with doing it yourself! You can just imagine the audience’s reaction to that and the cast on the stage was also laughing."

"Then the whole cast made their own standing ovation complete with applause and bows to us and then L5 was over"

I have been to 4 conventions and this one topped them all...

I loved seeing all the friends I have made on the different sites... and making new ones... loved the talking on Sunday night... loved how we all just feel so at ease with each other... all of the different people from different parts of the world... it was a weekend to remember and one I will never forget...

Thank you for reading...

Mary Grace... aka AmandaMG