To continue the ever popular thread that I cannot find ( for lack of trying, to be honest) I have two additions to Brushes with Fame and ( a new one of sorts) Six Degrees of Seperation:
My aunt and uncle say Clint Eastwood while on vacation in California.
Last year four high schoolers plotted to terrorize a high school in Port Huron, MI. They were caught and tried and given some kind of punishment ( I don’t know the details on the legal stuff.) Anywhooo, two of the boys for whatever reason were down in Austin TX and stole a car and were being chased ( I guess) by the cops. They ran into a ditch
( purpose or accident, I dunno) and realized the jig was up. They killed themselves with a shotgun. This just happened this past week.
The connection: One of these two kids is the neighbor to my aunt and uncle in Port Huron. ( Said he always kept to himself.)
I have never let schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
*Shirley Ujest: To continue the ever popular thread that I cannot find ( for lack of trying, to be honest) I have two additions to Brushes with Fame and ( a new one of sorts) Six Degrees of Seperation:
My aunt and uncle say Clint Eastwood while on vacation in California.*
I said “Michael J. Fox” while in Montreal. Nothing happened.
I know a gentleman that knew Pres. & Mrs. Kennedy and knows Pres. & Mrs. Bush.
I have played with Blues (sub)Legend Magic Slim many times, and Johnnie Johnson (of “Johnnie B. Goode”, used to be Chuck Berry’s piano player) sends me Christmas cards…
So there!
Sweet Basil
ps- I say “Bo Diddley” when I’m on vacation
I post on the same message board as someone who has an uncle and aunt who say “Clint Eastwood” while on vacation. The name “Clint Eastwood” can be used as a magic talisman to prevent punks, republicans, and other assorted low-lifes from trying to separate you from your money.
One of my older brother’s friends in high school was a direct descendent of William Dawes, who rode with Paul Revere that night in 1775.
One of my friends in high school briefly dated Lisa Welchel (Blair from Facts of Life).
One of my younger brother’s friends in school had a small part in All the Right Moves (with Tom Cruise). He played Tank, one of the jocks.
One of my ex-girlfriends, who worked for a brokerage firm after college, had to testify in hearings against Michael Milken.
My sister has a picture of herself with Gerry Adams, with him holding her four-year old son on his shoulders.
Due to various jobs I’ve held and people I’ve known over the years, my brushes with fame have been manny (the mostly-complete list is somewhere in the old AOL archives, but I have no idea how to find that stuff anymore…), but I don’t think I ever shared with you guys my actual ONE degree of separation from Kevin Bacon.
Yes, folks, ONE degree. Do I rock, or what? Back in 1988 or so, as I was waiting for my coat (about to leave a nice restaurant in Chicago), Kevin Bacon exited the elevator and approached the maitre 'd’s podium. My coat arrived at the same time, we kind of did the “excuse me” shuffle as I was helped on with it, then I gave him a knowing look (as if to say “Hey Kev - not gonna bother you, but I DO like your work”), which he most definitely returned (“Thanks, and thanks for not bugging me”), and we went our separate ways. My other connection to Kevin Bacon is that Footloose is supposedly about a small redneck town in Texas - Beaumont - where I was born and raised. EEK!
StoryTyler
“Not everybody does it, but everybody should.”
David Bowie’s son Zowie was in one of my classes a few years ago when I taught at a small, Midwestern college. I have no idea how he chose that particular school. Nice kid, though.
My connection is a bit more obscure. My 4th great-grandfather on my mother’s side was Edgar Allen Poe yes, THAT one and my 4th great-grandfather on my father’s side was a Cherokee indian chief. How’s that for a diversified background! Our last direct connection to the Poe name passed away in the late '70’s my great-uncle Henry Poe who lived in Seattle
Life is teaching you some painful lessons. But it is from adversity that strength is born. You may have lost the inning, but I know you’ll win the game.
My GF’s father used to play guitar with Otis Redding in his backyard.
The drummer from Matchbox 20 (Ugh, I hate them) used to date a girl I knew from college.
I used to manage a bookstore in the airport, So I’d see famous joes all the time. Dennis Rodman, Bushwick Bill (of Geto Boys infamy) , Randy (“snap into a slim jim” & pro wrestler)Savage. Emmanuel Lewis asked me where he could find “wealth builder” magazine. We didn’t have it. Michael Stipe twice (First time, and then 5 days later–both times wearing this ugly ass yellow stinky sweater. God, he is a small man.
My favorite:
I smoked a cigarette next to, and gave a light to Uma Thurman in the smoking lounge Atlanta airport
My husband and I saw Jerry Seinfeld filming an American Express commercial. We wondered why everyone was just milling around and then, there he was. He just walked right by us. We said “Cool!” and walked away.
Now I don’t know if this counts or anything but when I worked for American Express I talked to Dean Cain’s accountant who was calling about Dean’s account. Then my coworker and I snooped through his account to find out what things he was buying and where. We also looked up Jerry Jones (owner of the Cowboys) and Herb Keller (of Southwest Airlines).
“I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”
Oh I forgot Run from Run DMC hitting on me at the Hyatt and seeing Jimmy Vaughan a couple of times at my friend’s restaurant. I also have met at a picnic the lady who has the Olympic record in the 800 meter hurdles. I guess that’s an event they don’t have anymore. For the life of me I can’t think of her name.
“I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”
Encounters while working at a small West Texas bookstore:
Got to meet and speak with Elmer Kelton about three times.
Several run-ins with Robert James Waller (Bridges Of Madison County). Twice sold him books: once, a large stack of “Ranching Made Easy”-type books; once, a copy of On The Beach for him to read during jury duty. And even once, during a book signing where everyone was fawning over him, I–having had too much to drink–simply bummed a smoke from him (Merit Menthols… ugh!).
Met Larry McMurtry, but didn’t know it at the time. They were filming one of his books in town and he came in to buy up all of our copies of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
Jerry Jeff Walker’s band (but not Jerry Jeff himself) came in at 5 minutes to closing time. I kicked them out. Next night, as I watched them take the stage at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, I thought… D’OH!
Never met Tommy Lee Jones, but almost everyone I know has (he has a ranch near here). The word on the street is: He’s a Total Asshole.
I once had dinner with former NBA great Isaiah Thomas. My mother was friends with a family with whom the Thomas’s (sp?) were also friends with. Unfortunately, I was too young to remember, and Isaiah was still in college at the time. But, hey, who cares?
“If we submit everything to reason, our religion will have no mysterious or supernatural element. If we offend the principles of reason, our religion will be absurd and ridiculous.” Blaise Pascal
A friend of mine just came back from an interview for a job on the new Star Wars movie. So that’s three degrees fom George Lucas, and name a famous person who hasn’t met him? Hell, that’s four degrees from Natalie Portman!!! Wagh!
Also, Pantellerite, I heard that about Tommy Lee Jones too. I met someone who was an extra in a movie with him (this was way back in the early 80’s too, I think it was a movie called Savage Islands {or Nate and Hayes}) and he said he acted like a complete jerk. “Who is this idiot, and why is he in my light?”
When I was about 10 years old I shook hands President Johnson, I shook hands with President Bush while he was still running for president years ago. I’ve met Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parten. I worked for a man whose wife is sisters with Patsy Richardson, the lady married to Tim on Home Improvements. I work with a guy whose cousin is married to Denzel Washington.
I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
Back in 1988 or so, as I was waiting for my coat (about to leave a nice restaurant in Chicago), Kevin Bacon exited the elevator and approached the maitre 'd’s podium. My coat arrived at the same time, we kind of did the “excuse me” shuffle as I was helped on with it, then I gave him a knowing look (as if to say “Hey Kev - not gonna bother you, but I DO like your work”), which he most definitely returned (“Thanks, and thanks for not bugging me”), and we went our separate ways. My other connection to Kevin Bacon is that Footloose is supposedly about a small redneck town in Texas - Beaumont - where I was born and raised. EEK!