Shallow Meetings

I have 3 very nice photos of myself with 3 different celebrities. One is with Barbara Mandrel. Another picture is with Olivia Newton-John. The third picture is with Barry Manilow. One would assume that I knew these folks. We are smiling and looking comfortable with each other. 

The truth of the matter is that a close friend of mine was a DJ on the radio. Part of his role as a DJ was to promote new records and the recording stars that recorded them. He would be gifted to concerts in the Northern California area. We went to concerts in Sacramento, San Francisco, and other venues that I don’t remember.  

Something that always strikes me when I am introduced to a celebrity is that I have absolutely nothing to say or chat with them about. Nice concert. Loved that new song. Great outfit. So, I guess I’m saying that the meeting with the “celebrities” was completely superficial.  

When Olivia entered the after-concert press room, she was annoyed to have to be there. She kept asking her manager if she could leave. She must have felt the same way about us as we did about her. Barbara Mandrel was a true star in my opinion. She made the rounds of the room, spoke with each person, and offered coffee or soft drinks which she personally served. She asked questions like where we were from and thanked us for taking the time to stop and visit with her. When the allotted time was over, she waved goodbye to everyone and made her exit.  I don’t remember much about Barry Manilow except that not many people came back to meet with him. He was very polite and made a few jokes that were funny and clean. He posed for pictures and acted like he enjoyed it. He was comfortable being in the limelight and shared his time with class.

What occurred to me was that I don’t get a kick out of meeting someone just because they are celebrities. I can’t help but think that they might feel the same way about meeting fans. This seems strange to me because normally, I enjoy meeting new people and learning more about them. I don’t feel shy or awkward. I just don’t find that I have anything in common with them. I also don’t collect autographs or other memorabilia. My question is always “What am I going to do with this when I get home?”

This is not to say that I don’t admire their talent and recognize their success. I remember being at an auto race in Carmel, CA. As I was walking through the pits and admiring one of the cars, I realized I was standing next to Paul Neuman. He was carrying a beverage in a small brown paper bag. I smiled and said, “I’ll bet that’s not a Budweiser.” He just smiled back and shook his head no. (Budweiser was his sponsor). We both went our separate ways. My friends were all excited that I had been that close to the famous driver and actor. As he passed through the crowd, he kept his head down. There was no way to miss those blue eyes. I think to acknowledge him any further would have invaded his privacy.

Maybe, one day, when Sidetracked Sisters become famous I will change my mind. For now, I’ll continue to give celebrities their space.

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