Name Dropping! (Tell us about your most interesting encounter with a famous person.)

37 Replies

A chance encounter with a name led me to memories of bizarre encounters with two famous figures from the sixties and seventies–one who was notorious and the other who was a legend.   Who were they? I’ll tell you my story if you’ll tell me yours. 

To participate, tell us the name of the most famous person you have ever met under bizarre circumstances. Then tell us your story.

37 thoughts on “Name Dropping! (Tell us about your most interesting encounter with a famous person.)”

  2. VJ's avatarVJ

    Well, I once encountered Will Smith in an airport – much shorter than I had thought. But the most exciting encounter happened a year or more ago. It was a Saturday, and hubby and I were relaxing when the phone rang. “I’m in the neighbourhood, can I drop by?” the caller asked. I yelled at my husband to quick get dressed. Loreena McKennet was dropping by. A huge fan, I almost fainted. She’d heard about our work with Ukrainians fleeing war and wondered how she could help. Our relationship continues.

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  4. ghostmmnc's avatarghostmmnc

    Natalie Maines, singer with the Dixie Chicks (now just Chicks).

    Her extended family, grandparents, father, uncles, etc. are old family friends of ours. My husband’s dad worked with her grandfather in his mechanic’s business. His mom was good friends with the grandmother. Their children and my husband and his siblings all knew each other. Natalie’s father and his brothers and father were/are in a band, the Maines Brothers Band locally. Natalie was just a little kid when my girls were little kids, so they played together. We’d visit and even spent the night at their house once. Later the grandmother moved closer to where we live now, instead of just out of the city limits, and she’d come over to visit here at our house, too. Sadly she’s passed a couple of years ago. Anyway, I’m sure Natalie doesn’t remember us, as she was just little when we knew her. But still, it was very good to know this wonderful extended family all these years.

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    1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

      So fun to see someone we knew way back when rise to national prominence. I just remembered someone else I sorta “knew” as a baby. Reminded by your story. Thanks for responding.

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  6. anntonyjandc's avataranntonyjandc

    I met Ursula leGuinn at a garden party maybe 7 yrs ago? hosted by a mutual friend who was in Ursula’s book club. So we were introduced and my mutual friend said, “Ursula, Ann is a fantastic writer. Perhaps you could read something she’s written ” Ursula’s little tiny old face hardened. Her lips became a skinny red dash, her eyes shut tightly for a moment. She didn’t answer. She walked away and talked with a mutual acquaintance. I was hurt and embarrassed but I knew it was my friend who sounded the death knell. You don’t ask a famous writer who’s living out her last years on earth if she’d like to read another damned hopeful writer’s efforts! I felt how this must have felt. I probably would do the same thing if I were old and famous. I’m old now but not the other. But still .. I forgive her with all my heart.

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          1. anntonyjandc's avataranntonyjandc

            Oh. Yes!!!! Wish I had time. Crazy here. Carolyn sick w diverticulosis, tony relearning to walk, and j. With sciatica. I’m hobbling. It’s a hard hard time. I love you. This survey most fascinating. And you’re one of the best writers I know and after Stephen King, the most prolific.

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            1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

              Sorry to hear you are all under the weather. I feel like that increasingly myself. Thanks be we still have our mental functions! xo to you all.

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  7. TiffanyArpDaleo's avatarTiffanyArpDaleo

    I’ve met a few, but maybe the most bizarre is Greg Douglas, the guitarist for the Steve Miller Band. My ex was the sound guy for USO shows, he befriended Greg so we all hung out a bit, he was all set to play guitar at our wedding, but I called off the wedding the day before, never saw Greg again!

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    1. slmret's avatarslmret

      Ooh — I didn’t think of Si Edmund Hillary. my dad took our family to LA when I was about high school age to hear him talk about his ascent of Mt. Everest. After the talk, my dad took us on stage to meet Hillary — my dad, te pediatrician, asked him if they needed a pediatrician on their mext ascent!

      Several years later I was on a tour of the island f Hawaii. Our tour stopped at a Rockefeller hotel for a buffet lunch. We arrived at the buffet line just aw Happy R was taking her pate to her table. She was very gracious, and greeted everybody who was oohng and ahing at her!

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  13. Marilyn Armstrong's avatarMarilyn Armstrong

    When I was 14 I was in the hospital (Columbia Presbyterian) in Manhattan. Eleanor Roosevelt was in there too — for the last time because she died a few weeks later. I met her in the elevator, each in our wheelchairs. I was too shy to have a conversation except to tell her that I enormously admired her. I was just 14 and she was so important.

    Second? Getting to actually know Alfred Eisenstadt and actually spending time with him. He greatly changed and hugely improve my concept of photography.

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      1. Marilyn Armstrong's avatarMarilyn Armstrong

        Not Albert Einstein. Alfred Eisenstadt — the famous photographer. For me, it was like Garry interviewing John Wayne. I felt blessed. I wish I’d been older and more sophisticated when I met Eleanor. I admired her SO much and I was completely tongue tied.

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          1. Marilyn Armstrong's avatarMarilyn Armstrong

            She was in her final couple of weeks. I actually had the same reaction when I met Pres. Clinton. TOTALLY tongue tied. I think I may have done some heavy breathing. He was a handsome man. Lots of sex appeal!

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  14. Ana Daksina's avatarAna Daksina

    I pissed off Miss People’s Republic of China once, by out-modeling her at her own fashion show. The designer invited me to China for the new spring line. I knew better! 🤣

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  15. bushboy's avatarbushboy

    Tiny Tim – He had a show in a large club in Sydney where my brother-in-law was on the committee.

    After the show I went backstage to meet him. I have his autograph on a beer coaster somewhere in my boxes of treasures. Shaking his hand was like a wet fish.

    He put on a good show

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