Now that I’ve been able to scan the picture and am on my computer…
STORY TIME WITH CASEY!
So, background info. During the panel, Chris had mentioned that a lot of people had told him he was smaller in person or that they thought he’d be bigger. And Chris joked about it, but I was like “hell, nah, dude. Still look great.” And apparently, my stupid Gryffindor lack-of-tact/bravery decided to show itself as a result, because, when it was my turn, I word vomited the only thing I could think to say:
“Wow, you’re more attractive in person.”
He smiled and chuckled (and hell yes, I made Chris Evans smile) and gave me a big hug for the picture. (And, let me tell you, he’s a great hugger. Like, look at that hand-placement. A+ hugs, Mr. Evans. A+.)
Afterward, he rubbed his hand up and down my back, leaned forward so we were closer to eye-level, smiled really big, and said “Thanks, Sweetheart.”
Yeah, I melted.
…
Well, then it was time for the autograph… And the emotional/sappy part of the story.
When they handed him the window to sign, he smiled and was like “This is cool.”
And I immediately took my opening to tell him about the WWII Shield window I made him and am sending to his fanmail (cause windows aren’t fun to take on planes. At all.)
And I wanted to explain to him that I’m giving this to him as a thank you because I have anxiety and his openness with his has helped me so, so, so much with mine.
So, I managed to choke out, “I’m sending it as a thank you. Because you have helped me through my anxiety so, so much…”
And I was emotional and anxious and I started my nervous habit of just kind of tapping the nearest surface (in this case the table) as I stumbled through the words.
Chris’s face fell into this look of understanding and compassion, and he just reached out his left hand and let me hold onto it until I finished explaining that I just wanted to thank him and gave him a quick little note I wrote with a picture of the window I’m sending him since I knew I couldn’t articulate what I wanted to say in the short time I had to speak to him.
He said this really earnest “thank you” and squeezed my hand before letting go to sign my window.
He was a complete sweetheart and was so genuinely understanding and kind and I am so, so glad I’ve selected this man as one of my role models.
