Screaming Middle-Aged Women

Screaming middle-aged women showed up to see Donny Osmond at the Barnes & Noble in Mira Mesa on June 22. He emerged from the bathroom and began signing his new CD. Females grabbed at him and screamed. A lady said, "I can't believe I just saw him come out of the bathroom."

One lady had driven from Fallbrook and had pictures from when she met him 30 years ago. Another person came from Riverside. One gal got to the bookstore at 8:00 a.m. even though the store didn't open until 10:00. A few hundred people showed; 90 percent were female. The few men I talked to said they had been dragged there by their wives.

Bookstore personnel announced that no memorabilia would be signed, but Osmond signed everything put in front of him. One lady who had him autograph an album said, "I couldn't say anything" when she reached his table. I asked why she was back in line and she said, "So I can have him personalize this. I forgot to tell him my name."

Two preteen kids walked up the line saying, "Woo-hoo, we get to meet Donny Osmond, how exciting."

One lady got angry with an employee because they didn't have Osmond's music turned up loud enough. Other women were speculating on his height. "He's 5'6"." The other replied, "No, he's not. He's at least 5'8"."

To talk with Osmond, I bought a CD for $12. I didn't know any of his songs or what to ask, so I said, "You're a hunk. And I'm a straight guy saying that." He threw his head back and laughed. "That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Good one."