So two nights ago I was lying in bed about to get some sleep when my friend called me suddenly.

“Dude! I just saw Shaq at the movies!”

“Uhh, no you didn’t. I don’t believe you.”

“I’m telling you, he just walked into a movie.”

“Stop fucking with me, I don’t feel like driving over there for you to be lying to me.”

“Alright well I’m serious, he’s in here for sure.”

I thought about it for a few minutes and realized I couldn’t pass this opportunity up. I was pretty sure he wasn’t lying at this point so I got ready and geared up to meet Shaq. Two of my friends came with me and we headed towards Clearview Mall. As I was getting off the interstate I had my eyes peeled in the mall parking lot. I know that Shaq has a huge black truck, and I saw one like his in the corner of my eye.

“Maybe that’s Shaq’s truck!”

I was so excited at that point and couldn’t wait to actually meet Shaq. I got even more excited when my friend shouted:

“MAYBE THAT BIG GUY BY THE TRUCK IS SHAQ!”

I slammed my foot on the gas and rushed to the parking lot. As I pulled into the lot he was on his way out. I rolled my window down and realized that his was already down. Sure enough, it was Shaq himself.

“SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQ!”

I couldn’t even begin to contain my emotion. I felt like I was a schoolgirl in the late 90’s meeting the Backstreet Boys. At that moment every happy moment in my life flashed before my eyes - except this time they were even better.

After yelling to Shaq for a few seconds, he waved to me and told me hello, but then started to creep out of the parking lot before I got the chance to tell him about my blog.

I yelled and pleaded with him but he continued.

I wasn’t having this.

I quickly turned around in the parking lot and started following him down the service road. I followed him for a few blocks - shaking form excitement I might add - and then he pulled over. I didn’t know what to do at this point. I was kind of scared to be honest, so I drove a block ahead and then turned around to continue following him. I followed him onto the interstate and then lost him there. To be completely honest, I even followed the wrong truck to the westbank for a bit, but that’s not important.

So yes, only days after starting a blog dedicated to Shaq, I met the Man of Steel. I know I didn’t get to tell him about my blog, but somehow I have a feeling he will acknowledge me soon enough. Call it fate, if you will.

As for now I will continue to make ShaqArt, and wait for the day I get to meet him again.