Meeting Barbara Eden: My Childhood Dream!

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been a huge fan of Barbara Eden. "I Dream Of Jeannie" is one of my all-time favorite television shows. Though I wasn't born yet when the series originally ran, I think I am Barbara Eden's most devoted fan. After all, what thirteen year old do you know would have a theme birthday party where her friends came dressed as their favorite movie or TV character?

As a matter of fact, I did! My thirteenth birthday party was one of the most enjoyable and memorable parties of my life. Even though I am grown now and will be thirty next year, I can still remember my thirteenth birthday party like it was yesterday. Dressed in a beautiful homemade costume that was white with green laced trim, I felt like I was the belle of the ball!

Although I was growing up, my admiration for Barbara Eden continued to grow as the years passed. In the Spring of 1990, my Dad heard on the news that she and Heather Locklear were costarring in a made for television movie which was being filmed in Washington, DC. Hearing my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity knocking loudly, Dad did what he always did best. He set the wheels in motion to hopefully make my childhood dream of meeting Barbara Eden become a reality.

Not sure where to begin, Dad wrote a letter to WJLA, our local ABC affiliate expressing my admiration for Ms. Eden and requesting to meet her on the set during filming. Although we knew that meeting Ms. Eden was a long shot, my family and I were so excited! My childhood dream of meeting Barbara Eden in person just might come true! In the weeks that followed, I monitored the mail slot faithfully, as I patiently waited for a response.

After waiting for what seemed like forever, the day I had waited for finally arrived. At long last, I received a response to the letter that my dad had written! The news was much more exciting than we ever could have hoped for. Not only would I be meeting Barbara Eden on the set, but my entire family was invited to join the cast and crew for lunch! Little did I know, there were more happy surprises in store for me.

As long as I live, I will never forget meeting Barbara Eden. I felt like it was a waste of my time and energy to go to school that day. I was so excited about meeting Ms. Eden that it was almost impossible for me to learn anything or concentrate on my schoolwork. I couldn't wait for the morning to end! No wonder it seemed to me like the morning at school passed by as slowly as molasses!

All morning long, I excitedly checked the clock in my classroom. At long last, the clock read, "12:00." Squealing with joy, I hurriedly left the classroom. Driving my wheelchair through the bustling, crowded, hallway, this was one of the only times in my life that I actually drove my wheelchair in high gear! After all, meeting Barbara Eden had been my childhood dream! Driving my chair faster than a speeding bullet, I savored every minute of this special day like a fine wine.

Mom, Dad, my younger sister Amelia, my younger brothers Blaine and Travis and I excitedly made our way through the busy Washington rush hour traffic. As if it were on cue, it seemed to me like the closer we were to the location of Ms. Eden's movie, the more congested the traffic was! I was too excited to say anything so I was as quiet as a mouse in the car.

After awhile, Mom broke the silence. "Amanda, guess what?" We're here!" she said excitedly. At last! I was so excited that I almost forgot what I was doing and drove my wheelchair right off of the lift! We watched filming as we waited for the cast to break for lunch.

"Cut! That's great! Lunch break everybody," shouted the director, Tamu. Although I was hungry, I was more excited about meeting Ms. Eden. Lunch was the last thing on my mind. Then, when I least expected it, Tamu walked right up to me. "Amanda, this is Barbara Eden," she said, motioning to Ms. Eden behind her. Ms. Eden was even prettier in person than she was on television.

More importantly, I was very impressed with what a nice person Ms. Eden was in real life. She was so thoughtful that she knelt down so that she could be at eye-level with me in my wheelchair. "Hi Amanda," Ms. Eden said. "It is so nice to meet you!"
"Ms. Eden, it is such a pleasure to meet you. I have loved watching you in, "I Dream Of Jeannie," all my life. It is one of my favorite shows, and you are my favorite actress. Thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to meet me." I said, as she hugged me.

"Sweetie, it is my pleasure!" she exclaimed. "But the day isn't over yet. How would you and your family like to be extras in my movie?" she asked.

"Extras?" I squealed. "That would be so cool!" My family and I were extras in an exterior shot for the movie. As Ms. Eden was leaving her boyfriend's house late in the movie, my family and I were in a background shot going down the street behind her.
I am so thankful to have met Barbara Eden. A beautiful lady and talented actress, she was all I hoped she would be and more. She had a heart of gold. If more celebrities were as kind-hearted as she was, they wouldn't be so negatively stereotyped!