| This is my account of the breakfast with Brian. Please don't use it anywhere else without asking permission first. Thank you. Brian�s parents came in first waving at everyone as they entered. Brandon made introductions and when everyone noticed Brian upstairs he pretended to trip in his own special goofy way. When he came downstairs and entered Brandon was making his speech and laughingly said, he was stealing his thunder. When he finished his speech he handed us over to �the man we came to see.� First of all Brian apologized on behalf of Leighanne. She really wanted to be at the breakfast but the doctor advised her that the air pressure of the flight would not be good for her or the baby. And as he spoke about the baby everyone cheered and he looked so proud. Brian spoke about the club, how much the event would make and a little about his surgery. During his speech, he had to back up a little, and made the silly rewinding sound with his voice. He said the ticket money would fund two years worth of classes at the HHC. He then took questions from the floor and we had none we could think of. So we just listened. He thanked everyone responsible for planning the event and making it what it was, including his parents, Brandon (Everyone's right-hand man), Brandon�s wife Sarah, Heather. Then he took questions from the floor. The first was the date that means the most to him. He said April 19, 1993 at 2:00 p.m. in class when Kevin rang him. Then the 20th when he was on the 6:00 a.m. flight and he had a layover in Atlanta, which is ironically where he lives now, and he rang his mom and dad and spoke to his brother who told him to go for it. As he spoke he was making all these scared faces as he related the story. He asked the first uniformed man he found to help him get to his flight and turned out to be his pilot. What do they plan to name the baby. Leighanne and Brian have tentatively decided on Bailey Thomas Littrell (BT, Jr.). He knows that Bailey could be a girls name, but they are going to spell it differently and he has looked at all the books and checked it out as well on AOL. They've done their homework! The running joke between them is that Leighanne keeps saying they should wait until they meet the baby because he could look like a Frederick or a Bob. Some asked about the new CD. Brian said they had recorded three songs already. Originally they had been in Japan and finished their tour and planned to take off the holidays and start recording in February. Then Nick announced he wanted to do a solo project. But it�s worked out well seeing he was going to be a dad. Someone asked when the baby was due. It was originally December 6 but has been brought forward. Now the date is around Thanksgiving. The next question was is the baby�s heart okay. Yes, he said that his condition was not hereditary. They have had a 4-D scan, which was amazing and it checked all the valves of the baby�s heart and even his brain. He said he just has to be born, well not singing and dancing. Someone asked how many children in each class. Seven to 12 and 100 have completed the class so far. They split the groups � half got to meet and greet Brian and his family and the other half had a snack and checked out the auction items. For the most part when everyone stepped up to see Brian he would give them a hug. When I was ready to see Brian, Ashlee had asked him if we could both have our photos together, which we did. He asked us where we were from in Australia (which he was amazed we had come all the way from) and we told him NSW (Sydney) and Brisbane. He said �it�s a beautiful country.� Exactly as he had on the Around the World video. He also commented that he likes the fact that you can fly half way around the world and still speak English. Then I got my photo taken on my own with Brian. Then I showed him my card and said do me a favor and check out this website and look at all the baby congratulations to you and Leighanne. And then my time with Brian was done. Looking back I wish I said so many things but it just wasn�t to be. I am more than grateful with everything that transpired. Just standing in his presence and listening to him speak to you with total attentiveness and gazing into his indescribable blue eyes is heaven on earth. No picture can ever capture the brilliance of his eyes. Downstairs we had brunch . Jackie spoke to us then first announcing the auction winners and then running through the video. They showed the video that had been runninig without the sound all morning and she gave a little bit of commentary. It was very emotional when it got to the pictures of Brian in the hospital and she couldn�t talk. It was very touching. She was crying and when you looked at Brian he was wiping tears away. After the video Brian spoke again and did some more auctions. Then he told us he would sing and we should listen to the words carefully. OMG!!! Unbelieveable listening to him sing. I wish I could remember the words or tell what they were but his voice was beautiful. The whole room was silent except for his singing *Sigh* In closing Brian was everything I dreamt he would be and so much more. He made everyone feel special and at ease with him. He was attentive and proved to me that he was indeed the person I thought he was. Inside and out he is a kind, caring, warmhearted, intelligent person who appreciates all the love he is given. His parents are adorable and you can truly see why Brian has turned out the way he has. He is a credit to them. Jackie is indeed his perfect fan. To both Mr. & Mrs. Littrell I thank you. Thanks go to Brandon and his wife, Sarah and also Heather for organizing this first class function. To Brian, the most heartfelt thanks for making the event everything I hoped for and more. We were asked not to distribute pics from the event, but I know some of you have asked just to see Brian. So I have added 2 from the event. Please do not copy or use these pics anywhere in respect of Brian and the HHC. Thanks. |