Wednesday, November 01, 2006

It's November!

Brinki*dink is participating in National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo). Mrs. Kennedy over at Fussy announced this challenge/contest as an alternative to National Novel Writing Month, where apparently people are writing an entire novel in 30 days. I think writing a blog post every day is much more manageable.

To start off this commemorative occasion, I thought it would be appropriate to tell the story of the day I saw Mrs. Kennedy herself on the streets of California.

I travel a lot for my job and, fortunately for me, I get to visit the beautiful towns on the central coast pretty often. One day, I was walking through such a town when I spotted a beautifully tall woman walking hand-in-hand with an adorably cute little boy. I knew, at first sight, that it was her and I completely froze.

Does one approach a much admired blogger in the same way they'd approach a celebrity? Is it rude to call to them from across the street, stumble over an awkward profusion of compliments and plug your own blog?

I was stunned into a frozen state of social panic and promptly feigned interest in the window dressing of a nearby card shop. It's odd because I read her blog regularly. I saw the before and after pictures of her kitchen remodel, I've read her tales of motherhood, I felt so bad when her dog passed away and was so glad when they got a new puppy. I feel connected to her writing and her life, yet I thought it would be intrusive of me to walk-up and shake her hand.

Ironically, that same day I had my second ever* TV celebrity sighting. After missing out on my opportunity to meet my blogging icon, I was feeling a bit bereft of self-esteem and so headed to Starbucks for a little pick-me-up. While waiting for my iced soy chai, who do I see down the counter but Abraham Benrubi. You may recognize Abraham Benrubi from shows such as ER and Parker Lewis Can't Loose. Again, I was struck with paralyzing anxiety that I was in the presence of a celebrity, and I went about my business non-chalantly all the while chiding myself for missing out on the opportunity to make a famous friend.

I don't know if actually making verbal contact with either of these people would have changed the course of my life in any way. But, the fact that I'm now sharing this tale on my own blog makes me feel like the experience has come around full circle in a way. Do ya get what I'm saying' here?

Post or Die Mothafuckers!



*My first celebrity sighting occurred when I was around 13 and met The Frugal Gourmet at a book signing in the mall. The Frug's show appeared on PBS and he'd cook things like Duck and Kraut, Tripe and Spaetzle. Little did I know that Jeff Smith would go on to be involved in one of PBS's most publicized scandals when he was accused of sexually harassing a few of male assistants. I never thought he was guilty, though I did suspect his relationship with Craig, the head chef on the show, might have been a little more than friendly. Regardless of the turmoil that surrounded his personal life, The Frug was quite an inspiration to me as a youngster in the kitchen. "Until I see you again, I bid you peace."

1 comment:

123Valerie said...

Oh! The Frugal Gourmet! That beard! I always doubted the charges, too.

So, my celebrity encounters?

The Fabulous Moolah and the musical institution that is Air Supply