I met NADIA! I even got to shake her hand! Jimmy, my brother, called me to tell me that Nadia was to be at the Lehigh Valley Mall on Saturday, November 4, 1995 at 1:00. I told him I wanted to go see her. I deliberately wore my sweatshirt that I had painted of Nadia so that she would notice it and then I drove out to my brother’s home with Sarah and Selynda, my two daughters. After that, we went to the mall with my brother and his family. We got to stand right by the balance beam and during her segment of the exhibition, Nadia was standing just a few feet away from us! Nadia did notice my sweatshirt! I saw her looking at it. Later, the announcer said that Nadia would be signing autographs and I told Jimmy and Tracy, his wife, that I will be definitely getting on line for that! I had brought along my copy of Nadia’s autobiography for her to sign (as per Jimmy’s suggestion). Sarah, Kayla (my niece) and I waited for what seemed to be an eternity and then it was our turn. Nadia signed my book and I showed her some pictures of my art I had brought along. It was then that I shook her hand and told her congratulations on her engagement to Bart and may they have as many children as they want! Nadia had a good laugh. Sarah and Kayla got autographed copies of a photo of Nadia that they will each treasure for the rest of their lives. I wanted to do a sweatshirt for Nadia when I saw that she really liked my shirt and the photo I showed her of the shirts that I painted for my cousins, Margaret and Elizabeth. It took 3 days to complete. That included drying time and washing time (to check for paint cracking as well as softening the paints). I had my husband, John, send the shirt out by UPS. I really hoped Nadia got it and liked it. Most of all, I hoped it fit her to her satisfaction. I received a card from Nadia on Friday, December 1, 1995. She certainly got the shirt and she likes it. I knew she would. I was so excited.
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