My Brushes With Fame

I've met a few famous people. 

Being the dork that I am, however, I generally do something really embarrassing and dumb. Or not know who they are.

I've met two Red Wings, quite by accident.  The first was Gordy Howe, who granted, is retired but still was one of the most famous Red Wings.  He used to buy cars at the dealership I worked at.  Unfortunately, I had no idea who he was.  I was sitting in the general manager's office while the GM signed checks and Gordy came in.  This was back in the days before the dealership went business casual and I had on a fuchsia and black color block dress (which gives you an idea of how long ago that was).  NOTE: I may not be able to remember where my car keys or checkbook are, but I can tell you what I was wearing when I was looking for them.   Gordy started chatting me up and at one point, put his hand on my knee.  I thought he was a dirty old man and jumped up like a shot and was out of that office like I saw a Clearance sign at Saks and told him to unhand me.  Since he was older, I was rather polite and asked him, " You want to take your hand off me or what?"

It was only later that the General Manager told me that was Gordy Howe and who exactly he was.  Not that it excused him touching me.

My ex used works in music distribution so we got to see a lot of concerts.  Some with excellent seats and backstage passes.  We saw Bob Segar at the Palace from a suite.  Very ritzy. Well, the Red Wings had the suite next door.  I didn't know this and spent a long time that evening talking to Daryl Coffee.  I had no idea who he was until I went back into the suite and some of the other women in there asked me if I had gotten his autograph.  I said, "Who's autograph?"  And they were very disappointed that I didn't even know who I was talking to.  I just thought he was a nice guy who looked like he might have been in a recent fight. 

NOTE: Daryl Coffee and I were talking about cooking.  He likes to cook and so do I.

I talk to Mickey Stanley of the Tigers 69 World Series fame all the time.  He is a local builder.  Very very nice man, very personable and very funny.  I've made some material deliveries happen for him like magic so the last time he was in the office, he had to give Michelle and I hugs and tell us we were "such sweetheart girls and so pretty, too, I hope Boss the Father and Boss the Son know they are lucky to have you two."  AWWWWWW. 

And my whole humiliating encounter with David Letterman is chronicled elsewhere on this blog and I really don't want to relive it.

Comments

[Stacy]

I met a few famous people when I worked in Florida; generally made an ass of myself. On one notable occasion, Robert Urich came up the steps of the restaurant with his family and all I could think was "Oh my God, it's Dan Tanna!" So when I told him it would be 10 minute wait (he was very gracious) I had to ask him for his name. "Uh, Urich" was his response. Cha.

[Amy]

Hmmm.....let's see....I hadn't really thought about it....now you've got me thinking....here's my list-
Mohammad Ali
Wynton Marsalis
Dominic from the Real World LA
Morrisey
Alison Krauss
a handful of the Chicago Blackhawks
Diana Gabaldon (book signing)
Janet Evanovich (book signing)
I think that's it....

[vero]

I was backstage at a Jefferson Airplane/Grateful Dead concert, and couldn't manage to open my mouth! I made Timothy Leary laugh at a booksigning, but there are those who would say that was no big deal.

[Ms P]

Will Smith picked me up once (literally, not a date, heh) and swung me around. I was at a press conference in Paris for one of his albums, everybody stood when he walked in. I was in an aisle seat, and when he walked by, I said "Hi Will", he stopped short, said, "Hey, honey, you're American!" and swung me around, LOL.

I also met Tom Cruise and got his autograph for my son (another press conference). Penelope Cruz was there too (it was for the French release of Vanilla Sky.) I didn't know people asked for autographs after the pressie, and I was nearly stampeded by all the journalists, and hit in the head with a TV camera.

I was also invited to a private Chris Isaac concert. (A friend works for his label.)

I went to HS with Tim Robbins.

All that and a ticket will get me on the subway, LOL. But the Will Smith business was really funny, it made me feel good, he was visibly a sweet man.