Sitting in the car with the faint smell of chlorine from the kids' towels, I had just picked up my daughter and her friend from the pool and I was so excited to tell them my news. I just knew it would promote me further toward the status of "kewl mom."

"Girls," I said giddily, "On Saturday, how would you like to meet Dr. Carlisle Cullen from 'Twilight!?'"

Screams filled the minivan. "Nowayohmygoshareyoukidding?!" I gave them what few details I knew. Peter Facinelli, an actor  from the movie "Twilight" would make an appearance at the Town Center Mall this Saturday. (If you don't know what "Twilight" is, go ask a 15-year-old girl, then resume reading this).

I like to be aware of my kids' cultural consumption, so I read all four of the "Twilight" saga books -- no small feat as each one is thicker than a Charleston phone book. I have to admit I liked the books. I even liked the movie -- a lot. I'm not alone either. There are a lot of women "my age" who love these books. There is even a Web site dedicated to 40-something fans like me (twilightmoms.com). Yes, it's pure escapist fantasy, but escaping occasionally is not a bad thing. At least that's how I justify it.

So taking my daughter and her friend was not going to be a great sacrifice for me. I wanted to go meet Peter as much as they did. We made plans to have my daughter's friend spend the night Friday and go to the mall Saturday to line up early. As I drove home, the girls chattered in the back seat about which book they should take for Peter to sign.

After a quick dinner, I logged on to the Town Center Web site to check the details. I was stunned to read that a fee of $25 per person would be charged to each person standing in line for an autograph. What!? Further reading revealed that the fee for having your picture taken with Peter is $40. No personal cameras or camera phones are permitted and no "posed" pictures or "hugging" pictures are allowed. I suppose the fact that a portion of the fees collected goes toward the celebrity's favorite charity is supposed to make the outrageous amount more palatable. It doesn't.

Maybe I'm old, out of the loop or cheap, but I think this charge for a simple autograph is obscene. It's actually embarrassing to think about paying $25 to have a movie star sign a picture. The Town Center staff should be at the very least uncomfortable about this fee. I hope at least one staff person sitting around the planning table winced a little. But as long as people pay it, they will charge it. We consumers aren't the whole problem, but we are definitely part of it. And that means we can be part of the solution.

I like Peter. I really like the "Twilight" saga. I love my daughter and we will probably never have this opportunity again. But I'm not going to take her. If for nothing else than to make a statement and set an example. Thankfully, when I told her, my sweet daughter was equally disgusted about the fee and understood why we would not be going. She was still disappointed, though. Me, too. Perhaps not as disappointed as those who show up at the mall Saturday morning without $25 cash expecting to get an autograph and catch a glimpse of one of their favorite stars. These people, mostly teenage girls and moms, have already spent enough money on all the books and the movie.

And in case you're wondering, Peter's favorite charity is a fashion brand that donates a portion of its profits to fight extreme poverty. Ironic, huh? He may be contributing to the very cause he is fighting.

Durrenberger lives in Hurricane.

"Girls," I said giddily, "On Saturday, how would you like to meet Dr. Carlisle Cullen from 'Twilight!?'"

Screams filled the minivan. "Nowayohmygoshareyoukidding?!" I gave them what few details I knew. Peter Facinelli, an actor  from the movie "Twilight" would make an appearance at the Town Center Mall this Saturday. (If you don't know what "Twilight" is, go ask a 15-year-old girl, then resume reading this).

I like to be aware of my kids' cultural consumption, so I read all four of the "Twilight" saga books -- no small feat as each one is thicker than a Charleston phone book. I have to admit I liked the books. I even liked the movie -- a lot. I'm not alone either. There are a lot of women "my age" who love these books. There is even a Web site dedicated to 40-something fans like me (twilightmoms.com). Yes, it's pure escapist fantasy, but escaping occasionally is not a bad thing. At least that's how I justify it.

So taking my daughter and her friend was not going to be a great sacrifice for me. I wanted to go meet Peter as much as they did. We made plans to have my daughter's friend spend the night Friday and go to the mall Saturday to line up early. As I drove home, the girls chattered in the back seat about which book they should take for Peter to sign.

After a quick dinner, I logged on to the Town Center Web site to check the details. I was stunned to read that a fee of $25 per person would be charged to each person standing in line for an autograph. What!? Further reading revealed that the fee for having your picture taken with Peter is $40. No personal cameras or camera phones are permitted and no "posed" pictures or "hugging" pictures are allowed. I suppose the fact that a portion of the fees collected goes toward the celebrity's favorite charity is supposed to make the outrageous amount more palatable. It doesn't.

Maybe I'm old, out of the loop or cheap, but I think this charge for a simple autograph is obscene. It's actually embarrassing to think about paying $25 to have a movie star sign a picture. The Town Center staff should be at the very least uncomfortable about this fee. I hope at least one staff person sitting around the planning table winced a little. But as long as people pay it, they will charge it. We consumers aren't the whole problem, but we are definitely part of it. And that means we can be part of the solution.

I like Peter. I really like the "Twilight" saga. I love my daughter and we will probably never have this opportunity again. But I'm not going to take her. If for nothing else than to make a statement and set an example. Thankfully, when I told her, my sweet daughter was equally disgusted about the fee and understood why we would not be going. She was still disappointed, though. Me, too. Perhaps not as disappointed as those who show up at the mall Saturday morning without $25 cash expecting to get an autograph and catch a glimpse of one of their favorite stars. These people, mostly teenage girls and moms, have already spent enough money on all the books and the movie.

And in case you're wondering, Peter's favorite charity is a fashion brand that donates a portion of its profits to fight extreme poverty. Ironic, huh? He may be contributing to the very cause he is fighting.

Durrenberger lives in Hurricane.