[I have finally mustered enough courage and strength to counter-attack the hang-over I got from Neil Gaiman's book-signing tour. My hang-over somehow subsided---mellowed down enough for me to be able to blog about it. And I am fully aware that it took me eons. Oh yes, three weeks since.]

In the summer of 2002, I found myself reading one of the books regarded as one of the top ten most dangerous books ever to be written. It was J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, a book well associated with the assassination of big Beatle genius, John Lennon. To call this controversy-prone book thought provoking and mentally and emotionally stimulating would be an understatement still. Its enlightening concepts delve down into the human soul and penetrate the reader's being in unexpected ways. It is a literary masterpiece dealing with man's psychological battle as he progresses through life and, at the same time, a book depicting an individual's perception of his human condition. If you have keen interest for books dwelling on such topics then a lot of graphic novels would definitely make that starving abysmal bookworm inside more than satisfied. 

Enter Neil Gaiman with The Sandman. Let me commit a mortal sin against Neil Gaiman by putting Sandman in a box and pertaining to it as "The Catcher in the Rye" times infinity with godly altercations. To be blunt enough, I don't know how my life could have been if I hadn't come across the books of this great genius in literature. Mr. Gaiman is one revolutionary man. He is an icon---the icon of all iconoclasts as I would love to put it and the god of all graphic novelists as I would boldly proclaim it. I honestly wouldn't be half the person I am today without the stories he has dared to tell in various mediums. His courage alone in standing up for what he writes inspires me. He is the human portal to the world beyond man's perception, to the world where dragons and crowns of rubies exist, to the world where not even the most talented of writers could take us. He has seen what lies beyond, and he took conviction in sharing to the rest of us his experiences. So to say that he has touched my life would be the greatest understatement I'll ever commit. He has altered the way I see life in countless ways unimaginable. His impact on my life was way beyond what my mind could even ASPIRE to decipher.

So the moment I caught news of Mr. Gaiman's book signing tour, I became more than agitated. I was ecstatic beyond belief---I could hardly recover from the gaiety I was feeling---it was a state of absolute euphoria I was trapped in the day I found out he's coming to Manila! I have never ever imagined that he would set foot in Asia, let alone in the Philippines. It was a surreal idea, almost devoid of credibility and any probable sign of happening. But it was real, nonetheless. And Neil blogging about it [www.neilgaiman.com] was a sure indicator that he would, indeed, visit us!

The author of the critically acclaimed graphic novel, The Sandman, and author of countless bestselling books in various genres recently paid our country a 3-day visit last July 9, 10 and 11. Neil Gaiman was here for his book signing tour. He was at Rockwell on July 9 for The Gathering and book signing event for fans, at Greenhills on July 10, and on the last and final day of his visit, July 11, he was at the Music Museum for the Writers' Forum and shortly after, at Gateway for the book signing event for fans.

I, along with fellow Sandman follower Sophia [www.moonworshipper.blogspot.com], went to Rockwell for The Gathering. We arrived late so we weren't able to get our books signed. But we didn't go home empty-handed; we had, in our minds, an actual version of Neil Gaiman doing a public reading of Anansi Boys. The whole tent outside Powerplant Mall was so packed and jammed that we couldn't even find a perfect and comfortable place to park ourselves while we await the arrival of Neil Gaiman. All kinds of people seem to be emerging from elsewhere as we glance upon fantastic artworks to another. There was also an Art Contest so there was an abundant display of neil-gaiman-works-inspired artworks inside the tent. I was also supposed to go to Greenhills for another of his book signing but my father didn't allow me saying, it was supposed to be a family day. Being the good girl that I am [I'd love you 'til death if you won't forget to note the seething sarcasm], I took a one day leave from school on the third and last day of his book signing tour, July 11, Monday. I took the courage to cut my classes and attend instead Neil Gaiman's book signing event for fans and attend the writers' forum at the Music Museum, which was strictly invitational but I got in anyway because my aunt is a writer and she got invites. I didn't go to school and I didn't regret it… I don't regret it still. It was worth being absent for what could possibly make me happy for a lifetime than meeting the writer I once looked up to as a child. Gee.

I won't go into the details 'cause I've noticed how long this entry is now and I have already narrated every detail to every interested person I've talked to after my Gaiman experience. So there. To wrap it all up, Neil Gaiman not only signed my "Creatures of the Night" hardbound book and sandman postcard, he hugged and kissed me. Yayness!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. His hug was so warm and tender. And he kissed like how a father would kiss his daughter after a long day at the office.

I must admit all that came to happen because I cried. The moment I came to my senses and realized I was next in line, my life before and after reading his pieces just flashed before me. I don't even know how to describe the feeling. It's just so surreal. Seeing my icon in the flesh---it was one of the realest moments in my life so far. It was one day I could and would never ever forget. Neil Gaiman made being a fan, and not to mention lining up for HOURS, all the more such a fulfilling experience.

I only got one book signed even though I brought with me every Neil Gaiman book I could find at home. The line was so long and still keeps getting longer so the owner of FullyBooked said we're just allowed to get one book signed to accommodate everyone. But I got two items signed. Nyaha. After all the crying la-di-dah shit I did, I think Neil Gaiman was sort of touched so despite the ogling eyes of the FullyBooked authorities at his back, he still managed to tell me: "No, no, no. I'll sign both." Haha. 'Cause I managed to slip my sandman postcard inside my Creatures of the Night book. Teehee.

Sweeeeeeet. Anyway, that concludes my Gaiman-experience. Meh. Go to www.neilgaimanphilippines.tk for more Neil Gaiman fangirling and fanboying stories and for a copy of the Writers' Forum transcript. =)