I went to Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks on a trip to San Antonio, TX. It is billed as a place to “walk among the stars and snap a few selfies as you come face-to-face with unique, lifelike wax figures of superheroes, characters, and celebrities!” I passed up Brittany Spears, Madonna, Harrison Ford, Prince William, Princess Kate, and various presidents. I did sit with Jimmy Kimmel for a moment to laugh with him about a joke I recently heard, but I soon went on my way. (Yeah, I know he doesn’t look much like Kimmel, but that’s pretty much the problem with these “lifelike figures”. They may look like a famous person, but you have to use your imagination with most of them.)
To tell you the truth, I’ve never been into celebrity. Maybe that’s because I live as far from famous people as you can in the continental US…Wisconsin.
But I have 2 times when people that I’ve been with HAVE been excited about a 1/2 famous person.
Jim McBetter
During college, I was involved in a very tight-knit fundamentalist church. Much of the history and allure about the beginnings of the church movement revolved around a man I will call Jimm McBetter.
Jim wrote books and songs. We listened to sermons and teachings by Jim. The pastors of the church referenced Jim and his devotion, commitment, and insights into God and His word.
During the summer of 1985, I attended a Youth Leadership Training out in Washington D.C. Part of this experience was visiting the main church in Gaithersburg, VA. One Sunday, I was in the car with four friends. We were getting ready to leave church and go back to the campus where we were living that summer. Suddenly Sandy said, “Look, there’s Jim McBetter!” The excitement in her voice was contagious. Everyone jumped out of the car…except me. Jim was walking on the sidewalk along the side of the building. I sat in the car as Tom, Sandy, Sue, and Mark talked to Jim. I can remember thinking, “He’s interesting, I love listening to his teachings, but he’s just a guy. We are acting like a bunch of crazy, goo-goo-eyed teenagers.”
After a few minutes, my friends got back into the car talking excitedly about the meeting. I didn’t regret my decision at all.
Natalie Gold
The second time something like this happened was at an author event. I went to a talk that an author was giving. I loved EVERYTHING this woman wrote. She is a well-known nonfiction author who made me laugh and inspired me to get my own ideas down on paper.
I went with a friend to a large theater-sized meeting room on the UW-Madison campus to hear Natalie talk about writing..and her new fiction book Banana Rose. My friend and I both bought her book. After the presentation, people lined up down the aisle. My friend wanted her book signed. I didn’t, but it was more important to be with my friend. When we got to the table, the sparkle in my friend’s eye was like a Jr. High crush. She could barely put two words together to tell the author how much she loved her work…and thank you for signing the book. I kept thinking that this lady must get bored hearing the same words of adulation over and over and over. It just seemed like too much of a good thing that we were contributing to.
“I’m Lisa. Thank you,” was all I said. Natalie signed my book quickly and was on to the next wide-eyed woman who was soooo appreciative.
Not Into Celebrity
Encounters with fame prompt varied reactions, but ultimately, they underline the question of “why bother.” Whether meeting wax figures, revered figures within religious communities, or beloved authors, these experiences shed light on our pursuit of connection and inspiration. While some may find excitement in such encounters, others, like myself, see them as moments to share with friends rather than going gaga over a celebrity.
These moments remind me of the human tendency to seek connection and inspiration, whether from iconic figures or the people who share our everyday lives. Perhaps that’s where the true value of these encounters can be found—not in the fame of the individuals we meet, but in the connections and memories they create.
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