North of Columbus, the last 90 miles on highway I-85 to Atlanta was kind of hard. I began to feel quite a bit of anxiety about actually meeting Petra. I have been a devoted fan of hers for ten years, but the idea that I was actually about to meet the standard that I've judged all other women by was a little overwhelming. I kept having to take deep breaths in the car to make sure that I was okay. The anxiety might also have something to with just finding my hotel in downtown Atlanta, but arriving safe and sound despite the lack of sleep the previous evening. I found the Ramada without much trouble, I only had to make one U -turn to get to their parking lot. I checked in, and went up to my room to grab a quick shower and change out of my road clothes. A few moments to give thanks to the Almighty were in order for my safe arrival and then I set off to meet Petra Charlotte Verkaik for the first time.
I paid my $12 at the door, and walked in to meet destiny. The most beautiful woman on the planet sat at a table in the center of the room. She sat with her head down signing a picture for another fan when I walked up. For the last four or five years I had rehearsed my greetings for my first time meeting her. I spent a few moments relishing the moment before.... (this is a acting term, the moment before a dramatic scene in a play that focus an actors mind for the upcoming monologue.) Anyway, when the other fan left, she turned and looked at me for the first time, and her stunning eyes leapt out to embrace my soul me with a visual hug. I had already been smiling when I walked up with my much rehearsed "Hi Petra, I'm Wright Sublette, your friend and fan in Florida, aka Wrighteous. I'm one of your alpha males....and then I don't remember what I said.... " or something to that effect.
Stunning beauty is funny that way!
I really had to concentrate to make sure that I got my name right, and not to have drool or the like to make a bad first impression. Petra greeted me with such honest warmth that my heart skipped a few beats. After the preliminaries were complete and I had established that we had chatted before via e-mail and her Chat Martini Lounge, over several months, and we had developed lively repour. We compared our battle scars, talked about photography, which gallery on Petra central we like, ( I love the purple sheer one) and basically had fun. One of the greatest compliments that I received over the weekend was from Petra's web master, who accompanied her on this trip. They praised the content of my website devoted to her.
First off: For the alphas that have not had the chance to meet Petra yet, its a wonderful experience. She is the sweetest person that you can imagine. Petra is SO approachable and genuine. This is a major part of her appeal. She is every woman rapt into one beautiful, perfect package. She is the Goddess of love, the cute girl next door, your little sister that you will always want to protect, and the woman that you dream to one day take home to meet Mom. You can see God's pleasure in her sweet gentile personality. You can't meet her and not love her, she just brings out the best qualities of goodness in your soul that is completely intoxicating. She is the pure ray of joy directly from God's heart! To know Petra is to love her with all your heart, she is that precious and deserving. (Sorry, I didn't mean to sound sappy, but if you have ever met her.......) Anywho....
I spent the day with her chatting over all sorts of topics, most Petra related. The other playmates in attendance at the Ramada had quite a few fans, but NO ONE had Petra's draw power. Her table always had adoring fans gathered( 1) around talking to her, getting 8X10's autographed, taking pictures with and chatting with her. It was a very civil, well behaved con. One the reasons it was so civilwas that the glamorcon was very poorly advertised so there was very low attendees. The location sucked also, not a part of town where people can just see the convention and just drop in. You had to know where you were going. Basically, all of the people attending were over 30. You hadno one from the ages of 20-30 there. Also most of the draw power came from the playmates from the late 1980s thought early 1990s. CynthiaMyers (Miss December 1968) drew quite a few fans, while the spectacular Natalia Sokolova ( Miss April 1999) had very low attendance. I frequent went over to chatted with her because she didn't deserve to be so over looked. JanetLupo was the only woman there that intimidated me by her awesome beauty. She was far more reserved then any of the other playmates, but still very nice.
Anyway...There were several perfect moments during the weekend. it was almost like Petra could read my mind, several times during the weekend I spoke from the heart, and she turned to me and it was like the rest of the world didn't exits for a few precious moments. One of the big reason I went was to take new pictures to post on my humble gallery for her, which I did, but a much more wonderful thing happened were I left with something far more precious and sacred, her friendship. My "big brother" genes in my RNA kicked in, for I really felt protective of her during the weekend. She transcends models or playmates, I felt almost a instant kinship with her, much like a big brother watching out for his kid sister. Granted that she is only a year or 2 head of me, but I still felt like a big brother to her.
As Saturday's events wound down Petra invited us to join her for a drink in the intimate lounge in the Ramada. This wonderful half hour to hour (I have no idea how long it was) was another perfect moment that my brain locked into protected memory. Petra and her devoted Alphas (sounds like a rock band..) hung out and enjoyed each others company. Andrew Lodder had the honor of getting her drink,
( This just in. Andrew sent me this in a email this weekend Sunday 3 October, " The drink that I got for Petra was called a Cape Cod.That drink is made with cranberry juice and a shot of vodka. Originally, Petra wanted a Melon Ball, but the barkeep didn't have one of the main ingrediants to make one, so Petra had the latter.")
Petra sat next to me as did a quickover view of his amazing presidency, and the time leading up to it. Naval Historian of the War of 1812, New York Police Chief, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Colonel of the Rough Riders, Peacemaker between Japan and Russia's brief war. (anyway..... sorry that is the history nut in me.) She was so good to sit and listen to my momentary discourse on Teddy.
At one moment while she was sitting next to me and I just spoke from the heart "This is just too cool for words," she turned to me and just beamed, "I'm having a absolute blast! Thank you for making this possible." I don't remember what she said in reply, but I know it was gracious. She really gets under your skin in a hurry. The time in the bar was far to short, but she had been in the public eye all day and was ready for dinner, and to relax in more select company, so we bid her farewell for the evening.
Alpha male Craig Norton & I went out for dinner at Hooters restaurant in Atlanta's groovy Underground section of downtown. Andrew was suppose to join us but he fell under a bad case of sleepiness in his hotel room. We had a cute buxom waitress named Kim who served us big 24 ounce Fosters beers with our dinners, and we discussed the wondrous time that was spent that day with Petra. Even with out her company, she was in our hearts. We both got a good laugh at some of the really good Frostier beer commercials over the last few years on t.v. "All right mate, the mother in law stays!"- Marriage consller! ;-)
Having lived in the south most of my life I took Craig on a short drive along Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta showing him the sites including the historic Fox Theater. "Gone with the Wind" premiered there. The architecture of this fab theater consists of a odd marriage of Camelot and the Taj Mahal. I first went there to see Phantom of the Opera back in the early 1990s, and have sence seen Cats there.I hope and pray that you all don't mind the extent of detail here, I just wanted you to experience just ataste of what I did over the two days in the city that was burnt to the ground in 1864. Craig and I enjoyed a relaxed companion ship during the evening. He said it best that Petra attracts nicer people. No smucks allowed here.
Personal observation: one feature that doesn't photographwell on her is her adorable chin. You have no idea had cute her chin is, until you see her in person.
Stand by for part 2.
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