“Hugs all around”

that’s the first thing Vanessa said at the first Team Hudgens meet-up in Vancouver on October 4, 2009.

The meeting was the first time Vanessa would meet any of us in the group. So you can’t blame me for being surprised that she came by herself to meet us – no assistant, no PA from “Sucker Punch”, nor anyone from her management. Just her gorgeous-ness, in a bohemian short dress, white scarf and sandals – hair still wet (she just got home from the gym she said). Just her, joining some “friends” for coffee.

And that was exactly the vibe of the whole one hour meeting – friends chatting over coffee, well except for the 5 minutes or so to go over the Team Hudgens scrapbook. Just like old friends catching up, we talked about what we have been up to: she asked us what we have done in Vancouver; admire each other’s purses and shirts and oogle over chocolates. We even shared “ooohs and aaaws” over our phones’ screensavers (hers is of her at the Vancouver Aquarium kissing a Beluga whale).

If you’ve seen the scrapbook videos you probably said to yourself: “she seems down to earth and sweet”. She is all that and then some; and that’s not being bias because we’re Team Hudgens. Trust me, this blog entry would not exist if I came out of the meeting with a negative perception of her. She was unpretentious, and refreshingly candid. Presents were accepted with child-like enthusiasm and anecdotes were shared with excitement – complete with arms waving in the air.

Most good things must come to an end though, right? After about an hour, Vanessa asked if we want pictures; our signal that time with her was almost over. We took a couple pictures and walked with her a bit and said our goodbyes. I asked her if she enjoyed the meeting and if we could possibly visit her again. She said of course; we are afterall part of her extended family now. She then proceeded to give us all hugs again and said “I guess I’ll see you again”.

Have I mentioned this is the first time she has met any of us?

The meeting was both surreal and overwhelming, so I hope you understand if I don’t remember every single word uttered.

Thanks again to Evan, for making all this happen. Thanks to everyone in Team Hudgens, and of course, thanks to Vanessa for everything.

Until the next meeting.

(for discussion on this entry, please visit the Team Hudgens forum)