Stella's Story
March 2003, On the set of Third Watch

How do I talk about a dream come true? I still can't believe it myself, but I know it happened, and my pic is proof of that. Everything's still blurry in my mind, and I'm trying to put together all the pieces of this puzzle to do my best and write something that makes some sense to you guys...

Okay, so I took a week off from work and told everyone I was flying over to the US. My parents didn't take it too well (they still think I'm nuts), but I felt I couldn't miss this chance so I basically ignored them. In my heart I hoped to be lucky enough to be able to meet at least one of the actors of my favorite show, but I knew there was a good chance that wasn't going to happen, so I didn't say anything to anyone and kept it a secret. After all, Third Watch isn't this popular here in Italy, so they'd probably laugh at me.

Once I got to NYC, I met up with my friend Mimsy, and we decided to give it a try. It was Monday, the COLDEST Monday in my whole life (I live on an island, and the temperature's definitely warmer over here...) but we kept walking through Brooklyn until our limbs went numb, and were lucky enough to finally spot them.

My heart started to beat faster just watching 55David parked a few feet ahead... We just stood there for a few minutes, too dazed to even move, until we started talking to one of the crew guys. Someone was definitely listening to my prayers that day, because as soon as the guy heard I was from Italy, his eyes widened and he told me his parents were from Italy too. I still can't remember how we got from Italy to Jason Wiles, but next thing I remember, he told me to wait and approached him during a break from filming.

I looked over to my friend and started to repeat "Oh my God, oh my God..." over and over. The guy came back, and told me to follow him. I'm not sure how I willed my legs to move (my friend helped me by pushing me forward), but a few seconds later I was standing right in front of Jason, and he was holding out his hand to shake mine!

I remember thinking it'd have been better to take off my glove but I didn't do it. He did. That struck me, it was a nice gesture. He introduced himself and said, "So you're from Italy", and I heard myself say yes as my eyes wandered from his face to the badge on his uniform. My body was there, inches from him, but I'm not sure where my mind was, because there are details I still miss, but I guess that's fine when you get to meet your favorite actor. Or so I hope.

He asked me how I was, and I genuinely told him that I'd never been so cold in ALL my life. True. He replied it'd been worse, which is something I can't even begin to contemplate. I was freezing all over, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

"So, is Third Watch doing okay in Italy?" That was his next question. I couldn't believe he was nice enough to lead a conversation with ME. I mean, I read about you guys meeting him (and YES, I was jealous...) and describing him as the nicest guy on earth, but one thing is when you read something, and another thing is experiencing it. I told him they just showed season three, and he smiled and said something like "Good."

Then I looked around and saw the crew getting ready to film again so I held out my hand again and thanked him. And he shook it again. He made a few steps and said "Are you sticking around?" and I replied, "Yes." No doubt. They'd have to drag me now.

So we stuck around.

A couple of hours later, we met him again. We were hanging out with another friend, and I was still freezing, but this time I took my glove off. I asked him if we could take a pic together, and he said of course. As of today, I have something like five copies of that pic: big, small versions of his smiling face stare back at me from my computer screen, the wall next to my bed, my diary, and a few other places. And I still can't believe it.

After that, I reached for my notebook and asked him for an autograph too. I was like 'It's now or never, I can't miss this chance.' And he agreed to do that too. I handed him the notebook and the pen, and he started to write a few words, but when it was time to sign it, my pen wouldn't work. We all started laughing as he tried a couple of times with no luck. He crouched down and rested the notebook on his leg, but that didn't help. He tried to shake the damn thing (and you can still see the signs on my notebook...) but to no avail, so in the end one of my friends borrowed him her marker and he turned the page and signed another autograph!

I should be grateful that the pen didn't work, 'cause now I've got TWO autographs, and it was fun watching him struggling with it (it was a classic Bosco moment, I was almost expecting him to say "I'm gonna kick your ass, how about that?" *lol* ).

I thanked him again as he said goodbye, and then "Thank you for staying in this cold", which I REALLY appreciated. As I watched him walk away I realized my dream had just come true. Not only I'd been able to watch as they filmed my favorite show, but I also met the man whose pics I've spent countless hours staring at, a man who's made me cry so many times on the show, a man who was nice enough to share a few minutes of his time.

Jason really is a wonderful person, and I will treasure this day for the rest of my life.

THIS PICTURE BELONGS TO STELLA DO NOT TAKE WITHOUT PERMISSION!