Pages

Monday, April 5, 2010

Brushes with Greatness

When I was in high school, I was in Spanish class with a girl that made the U.S. Olympic Trials for Gymnastics. Her arms were like tree trunks.

My senior year, a local weatherman from the CBS affiliate joined our church. His closer connection with God did not lower the AZ temperatures.

During college, I saw Adam Sandler in a bar. I daresay he had partaken of the ganja.

Also during college, my windshield was broken by a member of the Brazilian National Soccer Team. They swear that a soccer ball, kicked at high velocity by a world-class player (training at NAU's high altitude training camp) could not break a windshield. Filthy Brazilian Liars.

My friend, Sunshine, partied with The Misfits, a punk band.

At the HORDE festival, I told Ben Folds that he put on a good show.

While teaching, one of my students showed me pictures of him posing with his family's friends: the members of REO Speedwagon.

Also while teaching, a student, whose mother worked for Canyon Ranch, (a fancy-pants resort) shared that Leonardo DiCaprio and Sharon Stone were "really nice" while they were in town filming, The Quick and the Dead. Apparently, though, Mike Myers's (now former) mother-in-law, Linda Richman, was a real bitch. Not at all like but-tah.

I worked at a summer camp with a man whose brother taught Kirsten Dunst. She was a cheerleader.

My sister-in-law, an occupational therapist, had a patient whose mother trained animals for movies. Thus, I held the kangaroo from an Avis commercial.

My friend's dad worked at a body shop and repaired James Brown's car. He also saw Smokey Robinson in a motel elevator. This man, apparently, has a direct line to Motown.

Another friend drank kamikazes with John Kennedy, Jr.

A student's father piloted Air Force One, and flew George Bush to Iraq for his surprise Thanksgiving Day Feast with the troops.

My aunt has a friend whose daughter works for Oprah.

Barack Obama spoke at my cousin's graduation ceremony.

A friend of mine saw the actor that plays John Locke at a Whole Foods on the Eastern Shore. She said, "I kept babbling to him about chutney."

About a year ago,  I found out that a friend of mine used to work with Sterling, the boy who played Young Benjamin Linus on  Lost.

One of the losers from Hell's Kitchen owns a restaurant a few miles from us.

And today, I saw President Clinton's former secretary, Betty Currie, buying bananas at Wal-Mart. 

Brushes with greatness, indeed. 

Your turn!

(PS--Yes, if you've been reading from way back, you're right. This is a slightly updated re-run!) 

21 comments:

Lothiriel said...

that's pretty cool! i met president Clinton in person; he came to my school (while he was still president).

i'm sort of related to Oscar de la Hoya; his grandpa and my grandpa are first cousins. no idea what that makes us.

i met Edward James Olmos. he's very nice.

but that's it. i haven't had much experience with famous people.

Formerly known as Frau said...

I rode a ski lift with a soap opera star along time ago. Also met Reggie Jackson the baseball player when I was 12. Pele the world famous soccer player patted my head once. Okay not really exciting but it's my story! Have a wonderful Monday!

Coby said...

My mom used to work with Janet Napolitano, and I got to go to Italy with Ms. Napolitano in '97; when I had my twins she sent the boys little certificates from the governor's office with her signature on them! On that same trip were my mom's boss (John P. Frank, lawyer who did the Miranda Rights and Brown vs. the Board of Education) and his son in-law, the movie producer who did Air Force One.

Pocahontas is my 13th great-grandmother.

My Uncle Brent Carpenter carried the Olympic torch into the stadium at the Salt Lake Olympics.

I sat next to the poet laureate of the U.S. back in the 90s - Rita Dove - at a dinner once.

People often mistake my dad for Michael Jordan, which is better than being mistaken for OJ Simpson.

Rebecca said...

I've had a few brushes with greatness but they all pretty much slip my mind, but I'll just post the few my feeble brain can remember.

Kelly Corrigan at a book signing for her newest book Lift (Buy it, it's awesome!)

Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, he got out of a cab and was carrying around shopping bags. I had showed up early to a general admission concert so I could be front and center for his concert. He was awesome and asked if I wanted to get my photo taken with him. He put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a big squeeze.

A member of The Aquabats pulled me up on stage in front of about a thousand people to dance!! They later invited me to their party at the hotel but my LAME friend declined saying her mom would be mad if she got home too late.

I sat on the lap of the drummer from Smashmouth and I swear we were about to make out but another LAME friend kept nagging about how we needed to get home because it was late (It was after the concert was over and we had a 2 hour drive home)

I carried a huge crate of beer down the stairs of a night club where (I forget what band was there) some band was about to play, all members were down there and I got to hang out with them while they drank....I don't drink beer but they kept asking me if I wanted any.......They were kinda a biggish band but I can't remember....

Eternal Lizdom said...

Fun!!

My kids played with the Obama girls at a "family picnic" in Noblesville, IN when he was campaigning.

I just met Jared the Subway Guy on Friday- and did a Fun Run with him and 150+ other people. Also there was Danny Manning (former NBA player and current asst coach to some NCAA b-ball team).

I once saw Jerry Springer in an airport.

I partied with someone from some Star Trek series. I have no clue who it was.

My BFF is a writer for Marvel and his name is out on the internet and such all the time.

Oh! And when visiting him at a Con once, loads of famous people were in the vicinity- Lou Ferrigno, the original Buck Rogers, Eliza Dushku, the girlfriend from Silver Spoons, etc.

Ms. Moon said...

The mood I'm in? I'd say anyone who knocked up against me anywhere was the lucky one!
Ha!
Once a member of the Neville Brother's band sent me out a backstage pass. How's that? I was forty years old and the mother of four.
Unfortunately, (or, actually, fortunately) my husband was at the concert and I did not use the backstage pass.
Sigh. I used to be so cute. And such a damn good dancer.

Maggie May said...

Ok I LOVE That you even recognized Betty Currie.

cheatymoon said...

Oh fun. :-) I saw Lauren Hutton at LLBean - she is petite. I saw Clinton speak at a dinner function in D.C. - he was wicked smart.

My ex worked with Dan Quayle and hung out w/ Dan Rather for a day or two...

Obama was in my town last week and I didn't get to see him. Really wished I could have.

MrsBlogAlot said...

P Diddy once...if that's still what he calls himself (-:

Robin said...

You are so kool..can I touch your blog...Lol...I know what you mean..Ok I have a list...funny I was going to add this to my 10 things about me post..

..Billy Joel..at greek food place
...Tatum Oneil and John McEnroe..buying mixers at food store
..Doanld Trump..at Trump Casino
..Kelly Clarkson..3 times at meet n greets
...Constantine Moroulis..at Wedding Singer on broadway
...Anegelina and Brad at our grocery store..with kids in tow
...Hubs met Bill O'Reilly..where he lives
...Roanld and Nancy Reagan drove past our house in a presidential convoy and waved at us..about 10 feet away
..Sean Landetta ..NY Giants..hubs did work for him/friendship
..Jackie the Jokeman..from Howard Stern..lives down the road from us
...Vin Diesel went to my daughters school
...My daughter stood next to Keanu Reeves at a concert..making out with his GF
...Umm..Thats all for now...sorry I ran on..my family was reminding me of more..I have pics of some of them..I must find them

adrienzgirl said...

I've run into many a celeb. My favorite ever though was at 14, Rob Lowe was filming a movie here in FL. We went and met him where they were filming. *swoon* What a dreamy impression he made on me...a young hormonal teenager!

mollykay said...

My son is in the same Kindergarten class as Dr. Kevin Leman's grandson (author of The Birth Order Book.)

That's about all I've got.

Anonymous said...

Leo once worked for a large bookstore chain. He was the sales manager for the flagship store in the SE. He also organized and hosted all of the events.

I once went to a reading and signing by John Prendergast. When most of the people had left, he noticed me standing with Leo holding my copy of the book he wrote. He asked if I wanted him to sign it for me. Without thinking I said "no thanks!" Then turned to see Leo, mouth agape.

Apparently, when the person who wrote a book asks to sign your copy, it's poor form to refuse. Who knew? I wasn't all that impressed with his book and really, he's just a guy.

Anonymous said...

Leo once worked for a large bookstore chain. He was the sales manager for the flagship store in the SE. He also organized and hosted all of the events.

I once went to a reading and signing by John Prendergast. When most of the people had left, he noticed me standing with Leo holding my copy of the book he wrote. He asked if I wanted him to sign it for me. Without thinking I said "no thanks!" Then turned to see Leo, mouth agape.

Apparently, when the person who wrote a book asks to sign your copy, it's poor form to refuse. Who knew? I wasn't all that impressed with his book and really, he's just a guy.

Claudya Martinez said...

You know me and I was in an AVIS commercial that aired a little over a year ago.

Gary Coleman followed me and my friends on Ventura Blvd. We got out of the car and talked to him.

Danny Aiello gave me a hug and told me I reminded him of his daughter.

Maude Lynn said...

Bret Michaels gave me a pair of sunglasses!

Jenny said...

Geez...not much here...

Met Paul Simon who hugged me and told me I was beautiful. Yea, that was a long, long time ago.

Had lunch with Magic Johnson who told me he would mentor my son in basketball. My son is dumb. He didn't do it.

Talked to Mary Engelbreit on the phone.

Heard Paula Deen talking in the background when I was talking to one of the editors at her magazine.

Geez, now I'm sad.

Tracie said...

I hate to brag but I rode in an elevator with Chaka Khan and El DeBardge. (Not sure of the spelling on either of those and I'm much too lazy to Google this am.)

Cat said...

I worked for Congress and the State Department, so all my brushes have been with politicians... Clinton, Bush, most senators and representatives who were in office circa 2000, Colin Powell...

Ooh, once Chris Tucker toured the capitol while I worked there. That's my only non-political one I can think of.

Traci said...

Well now you know someone who went to Undergrad with Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory and grad school with Anna Belknap from CSI: New York and Elizabeth Banks. SO we should six degree out the kazoo.
:-)

sd said...

I worked as a camp counselor near Frazier Park, CA. One Saturday we went to a little country store with a deli inside. Nicolas Cage was walking out- he held the door open for me and called me "Ma'am"... I was like 19.