I've shared with you all that I have been truly blessed in my life. I have been afforded opportunities to meet and befriend many different people in music, film, the arts, politics, industry and entertainment. I consider Geddy one of my good friends; as well as Alex. And my career has afforded me the chance to meet many others. As a result, I've had dozens of encounters. We have a group of artists, fellow authors, musicians, and actors that we try and get together at various spots around the world each year. We have a name for our "secret club", and even our own web address. We elect a president every three years, and we usually get together (only guys) for a week or so of drunken revelry, gastronomic indulgence, cigar smoking, and general male bonding tom foolery. Our little group continues to grow. And it's not unique. It is also heavily fortified with Canadians in the arts.
For many reasons I won't bore you with the details, but I'll share one really awesome "guest".
In June of 2014 we spent a couple of weeks in the Caribbean. There were about 16 of us, and Bill Murray was an invited "guest". We all had a blast. He was everything you'd ever heard about him; and nothing like anything you'd ever heard. His stories were hilarious; and his wit, kindness and charm were unsurpassed.
My wife and I used to also have a home and split our time there, near DC; and as a lobbyist, and then political consultant, her career has given me access to various "famous" people too.
I could share dozens of stories about various encounters, but I'd like to share those random ones instead.
I got on an elevator once with Donald Sutherland at GW hospital in DC. He was lost, and I helped him figure out the clinic he was headed too.
At a large fundraiser in DC, I was bored, and mingling, and turned around and former President Clinton was standing there and asked me matter of fact,
"So, what's some good music you'd recommend to me?"
Caught off guard, I blurted out. "Have you heard Dream Theater?"
"Is that a musical of some kind?"
"No, Mr. President, it's a progressive metal band, but they are really good."
"Is that right? Dream Theater. I'll have to check them out."
We were interrupted and he was on to the next conversation. But I drove my wife crazy on the way home sharing my excitement and the details. I've always wondered if he checked them out.
I once sat next to Richard Kiel and talked the whole flight with him on a flight from Fresno to Chicago. He was a very cool, and very interesting guy.
Also at the San Francisco airport once Courtney Love was behind me in line to check-in. She had a few large bags to check, and I carried one for her until we got to the ticket counter. She was pretty cool and very thankful I helped her.
On a trip once to NOLA, I met Cher in a boutique store. She was paying for items and I was waiting behind her. We chatted for a moment. She was very sweet.
That same day, I had on a NY Yankees jersey, and after leaving Cafe duMonde I was getting ready to cross the street at Jackson Square, and someone kept yelling, "Hey, New York! New York! New York! New York!" Not being from NY, it took a moment to realize they were yelling at me. I finally turned and Cindy Lauper was standing there, and asked, "New York, what time is it in The City?"
And finally, on that same trip, I was in Maison Jazz Club sitting at the bar, drinking bourbon and listening to the band, and this hot blonde caught my eye. She was sitting with about 15 people who had a bunch of tables shoved together. She looked my way, and smiled at me. Aww shit! I went back to watching the band. I looked over a minute or so later, she looks over and smiles again. It's on!!!
She looked familiar to me. I've met tons of people, but I couldn't place her. It started to gnaw at me. Every so often, I'd think I'd figured it out...But couldn't.
Finally she and two women get up and make their way through the tables and walk right up past me on their way to the ladies room. She walks past, bats her eyes at me and says, "Hello", as she passes me.
This chick was fine. Our flirting glances were heating up, and she was "bout it, bout it!"
When she walked back, again a big smile, and I said something cheesy like, "Thank God, you're back, I was starting to miss you." She laughed, and I stuck out my hand and said, "Hi, I'm TempusVox." She shook my hand and then held onto it.
"It's really nice to meet you" she said.
Me: "You look so familiar to me, have we met somewhere else, or maybe in some other life?"
*She giggled* "I don't know about any others, but I don't think we've met in this one until now.
Where are you from?"
"I'm from Cincinnati, but I've lived and travelled all over."
"Well, I've never been to Cincinnati."
"Are you from New Orleans?"
"No, I'm here with my daughter and her new husband."
*Here comes the next cheesy line*
"Now wait a minute, if you have a daughter there is no way she's old enough to have a husband."
"Yeah, they're sitting right there."
*She points at the large group. My eyes follow her slender arm, and at the end of her index finger sits, Lisa Marie Presley and Nick Cage. They're looking at us, and wave. Duhhhhh! I know where I've seen her now.*
"You're Priscilla Presley?"
She laughs. "I am."
"Well, can I buy you a drink?"
"That's so sweet, but we're leaving. They were waiting on me."
The group of folks get up and start filing out. She leans in kisses my cheek and says, "It was nice to meet you."
"The pleasure was all mine."
When Cage walks by he's shaking hands with a bunch of people, he shakes my hand and says, "Hey man!"
The dude next to me, a total stranger says..."I'm buying you a goddamn drink! Dude, you were hittin' on Elvis old lady, and she kissed your damn cheek!"
*sigh*
We'll always have NOLA Priscilla...Well always have NOLA.
There are more...But that's a good start.
Topic: The "I (fill in blank) for (uber famous person)" Thread!!! (Read 10328 times)
