Who’s the most famous person you ever met?

Leonard Bernstein, Ethel Merman, Elle Fitzgerald, etc. etc.

Dlck Clark, in 1978 when I was on American Bandstand. I sat next to him on the bleachers to watch the musical guest, and we talked on air. Unfortunately, that episode and two others I was on weren’t included in the VH1 reruns in 1996, so I have no recordings.

I have a cousin (not first) who’s the National Sales Manager for a famous shoe company.

Former Attorney General Janet Reno to Bill Clinton with whom I worked with for several years. I was young and admired her intelligence, peaceful, gracious manner and understanding of humankind.    She passed away today at age 78 from Parkinson’s. May you rest in peace Janet:heart::heart::heart:

One of my first cousins is a very famous pop singer from back in the day. If I said his name, you’d all know it. Alas, for identity protection, please forgive me for not doing so.

The next would be Elton John, (along with a plethora of other rock stars), as my best friend’s husband was a sound mixer. He’d give us backstage passes when whatever band he was working for at the time rolled into town; so, I met a bunch of ‘guys in the band’. But, to me, a ‘handshake and hello’ don’t mean much.

Then there’s John Trudell who became a trusted friend of our family.

I had a lovely encounter with Floyd Red Crow Westerman during my shamanic initiation days… a beautiful man… what an auric presence he had.

I think the cutest story tho is the time when I was 15-years-old. My father was the manager of a drug-store down in Westwood, CA. I worked there during the summer months as a teenager.

Anyways, one day someone called in sick, so my dad put me in the Camera section. I always worked in the make-up/hair section, or cashiered, but on this day, the full-time Beauty-section gal was there, so, there I am, in Cameras, ugh. *lol*

And, of course, a man walks into that section and proceeds to ask me what was the best camera we carry. Well, recognizing him immediately, I became so flustered, I blurted out, ‘I don’t know anything about Cameras, I always work in the Beauty section!’

He smiled broadly and said, ‘You’re very pretty, of course you work in the Beauty section. So, why are you in the Camera Department?’

I told him about the sick person who should have been there and he nodded. I got the distinct feeling that he was going to go away. So, I said, ‘But our Manager is an expert about Cameras, even more than the person that’s supposed to be here. Let me get him for you.’ He nodded ‘okay’.

So, I pick-up the phone behind the counter but, before I press the button to the Manager’s office, I pause and say, ‘Excuse me, please forgive me, I mean, I know who you are, you’re very famous and I’ve seen all your movies and I, I love all your movies, but I… I can’t remember your name’.

He laughed so hard, I thought he was gonna bust a gut! He said, ‘That’s okay, honey, no one else in this town remembers my name either!’ and proceeded to tell it to me.

Well, I’m just so tickled, so flustered, so nervous, and so embarassed, I blurt out, ‘That’s right!’, and he busted out laughing again, *lol*.

I get on the phone and instead of saying Mr. ‘so & so’, (like I always did when working with my father professionaly), I said, ‘Daddy, daddy! Mr. Charles Bronson is here and wants to buy a Camera… I don’t know what to do!’ To which my dad said he’d be right there.

Mr. Bronson said, ‘Your dad is the Manager?’ With great pride I said, ‘Yes he is. I only work here during the summer and he knows everything about Cameras!’ It was akin to saying, ‘my dad is bigger and stronger than your dad’… god, what a dufus I was, *lol*.

Just then, my dad walks up, hand outstretched, big smile on his face, ‘Mr. Bronson, so glad to meet you. I’m so & so, how can I help you?’ Mr. Bronson shook his hand and, with a big grin said, ‘Before you help me, I just want to say that your daughter is delightful and gave me the kind of medicine I really needed today.’

I didn’t understand what he meant, and my dad didn’t either, but he never skipped-a-beat and said, ‘Good, glad to hear it!’

I walked to the other end of the counter and he and my dad must have talked Cameras for at least an hour… my dad teaching him how to use everything. He bought a $1,000-dollars worth of equipment and left a very happy customer.

After Mr. Bronson left, my dad called me into the office and asked me about the ‘medicine’ business. I said I didn’t know what he meant. So, my dad had me relate the exchange we had. I told him and he smiled. I asked, ‘Do you know what he meant?’ My dad nodded. I asked, ‘What did he mean, dad?’

‘He meant that, when you’re famous, you sometimes get a big head, and it’s a healthy thing to be reminded that you’re not the end-all/be-all of the universe. Not remembering his name gave him the dose of reality he needed.’

I’ll never forget my encounter with Mr. Bronson… he was sweet and kind to me, a star-struck kid whose nerves became unglued in the presence of ‘fame’.

Decades ago, I met Paul Harvey. I used to love his radio pieces.

And decades before that, I met Buckminster Fuller, who invented the geodesic dome. That was truly an honor!

This is a fun topic, mixmaster.  Thank you for starting it.

I sometimes feel like Forest Gump, since I have had so very many chance encounters with celebrities in the many places I have lived in my lifetime.  Have forgotten many of the names, but I guess the most well known person I ever spoke with face-to-face was Drew Peterson, who is accused of killing a former wife, Kathleen Savio, and who is expected of killing Stacy Peterson, his third wife.  I met him when he was still a police officer.  It was at a donut shop in town where he was standing outside.  I asked him a question about a drug deal I observed in my neighborhood, and he gave me some advice.

 Shortly after  that meeting, the media descended on our town and I found out who he was and what horrible crimes he had been accused of doing.  YIKES!  

I was one of the first people to sign up to search for his missing wife, Stacy, and ended up doing several TV interviews.  Sadly, Stacy is still missing to this day, and I still pray that she will be found so her family can have some peace.

 Drew will most likely spend the rest of his days in prison as he was convicted of trying to have someone murder the county prosecutor.  Stupid is as stupid does… 

Sean Connery,in the 70s in the Beverly Hills Hotel.Nice man.

Steve McQueen.  His eyes were incredible.  The Getaway was made in my hometown and a friend’s father owned the hotel where some of the movie was filmed.  I was very young and drove a California edition Mustang that I still have.  He commented on the car and signed one of the leather seats.  We talked about his fastback Mustang in Bullitt too.  My car needs new seats due to age but it’s never going to happen with that signature.  Maybe someday I will take the long dirt nap in the car….

The year after I met him he returned to town to obtain a quickie divorce so that he could marry Ali McGraw.  He stayed at his lawyer’s house who happened to live in the same neighborhood.  I ran into him again while walking the dog and he remembered me and the Mustang.  He was super down to earth.  Unfortunately he passed away 7 years later and much too soon.

As a side note, we purchased the house where he stayed 23 years later.  I often think about Steve staying in the house and about the other “stars” who stayed there while divorcing.  RIP Steve….thank you for being so nice and handsome! 

There were four. President Bill Clinton & Sec of State Madalyn Albright (in Romania 1997). Michael Jackson in Romania (1992). Angelina Jolee (2005) in Morocco. With Ms Jolee, it was just a Hello “where are you from”.With the other three was very personable & a real time to speak.  I’m sure it was due to the fact I was an American citizen and happened to be in the right place at the right time. The thing that was so interesting is that all this took place in Bucharest. Bucharest was my home base while in that nation, yet, I was usually only there a few weeks before leaving for other places in Eastern Europe, Africa, Middle East, etc.  However, I must say that actually meeting them and having opportunity to talk came at a time when I was heavily discouraged due to things that had taken place. Due to the fact I was a USA citizen, meeting them, I was made to feel like a queen. These meetings were pivotal in my life and I’ll forever be grateful.:heart::heart::heart:

Wow, some of you have really rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous.  I’ve met local celebrities, such as news anchor people, radio personalities, NBA and NFL players, etc.

I did meet the leader of the band, “Malo.”  They were an American-Latin band and had a hit song called, “Suavecito.”

I met the little boy who saw dead people in the movie, “Sixth Sense.”  He was with his mom, and they were conducting business at the bank where I worked.  They were sitting at the waiting area, and I walked up to him and said ‘hi.’  He was very shy.  He gave me an autograph.

Several years ago, I was about 6 ft from President Clinton.  He was in SA to rally for Joaquin Castro, US Representative.  I tried to shake hands but couldn’t get close enough.

I have a great story from one of my vice commanders.  This was back in the 70’s when he was stationed in England.  One day, he was waiting for the bus or metro when this British guy came and sat next to him.  They struck up a conversation, and they introduced themselves.  In his very Britsh accent, he said, “I’m Elton John.”

I always thought that story was cool and tell it like if I’m the one who met him…LOL!

Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Earvin “Magic” Johnson.  This was about 12 years ago when I worked for a non profit organization.  Magic was being honored by our non profit.  Kareem just came to our offices to meet with the President.

Imagine me: all of 5’0 straining my neck to see the face of Kareem Abdul Jabbar (who is much tallker than Magic Johnson) at 7’2 inches tall and lanky!  My neck hurt for two days after that.  LOL.

Jeb Bush at a Miami Heat basketball game.  He sat directly behind us and was really friendly.:womanhappy:

  Well, I’ve had some brushes with the famous!  Grew up with a girl and she was my brothers GF for a year or 2, but she wound up marrying Alan Fudge.

  Did not meet, but brushed hands with George Bush (the Sr), at a rally when we were with that party.

  And way back when I was about 13….Sonny and Cher were going to be in concert.  But they were appearing at the sponsoring radio station, so Mom dropped me off there in hopes of meeting them…BUT I had to promise to go see my niece in the hospital which was near there.  And I just loved my niece so no problem.

  And YES I did get to meet them.  Got autographs, but alas lost them a few years later.  Not many people showed up.

Many years ago my husband and I sat at a table next to Fred and Mary Trump in a diner in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn.

I was a cook for 6 out of 23 years in the Marine Corps. When I was a troop, one morning we had visitors to my unit and they came to breakfast. I cooked eggs for Jessie Owens. When He finished eating he came up to me and said “those are the best tasting eggs I have ever eaten” my 1st Sergeant and Commanding officer were so proud of me. It took a while for it to sink in that I had cooked eggs for the GREAT JESSIE OWENS and HE LOVED THEM. For those of you youngsters who do not know who Jessie Owens, was look it up. Be well, Luelue.