Monday Listicles - 10 ways celebrities are like us. I’m going to modify it and list 10 of my own celebrity sightings. Apologies in advance for my pathetic attempts at name-dropping.
P.S.: I DID NOT SLEEP WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD.
1. I know someone who slept with Rick Springfield back when the song Jessie’s Girl was in the Top 10, when he was a hottie on General Hospital.
(IT WASN’T ME.)
WASN’T. ME.
2. In college I waited tables, and one of my regular customers was Carlos Santana. He was the most polite customer, very soft-spoken. One day I was in a car with a group of friends and a vintage Citroen pulled up beside us at the stop light. Everyone in the car started freaking out because it was Carlos Santana! I was in the front passenger seat and my window was open, and Carlos – okay, okay, Mr. Santana – was driving the Citroen and his window was open. To the amazement of everyone, including me, he smiled and said “Hi, Ado.” (only he didn’t use my nickname, he used my real name.) It was my moment. My OMG moment.
Carlos Santana knew who I was. I mattered.
Later that year, I was having dinner at a restaurant and he came in with his entourage, causing quite a stir in the restaurant! I kept finding reasons to walk past his table, hoping he would stop everything and say, “Hi, Ado!” but he…didn’t…recognize…me. I was crushed – crushed!
3. When I was a new mom I was walking around Phoenix Lake in Ross with my new-moms group and our strollers when Sean Penn jogged by – shirtless and sweating – followed by Robin Wright! We all knew he lived across the street from the fire house, and some of us had seen him at the grocery store, but never shirtless and sweating! So all of us simultaneously shit ourselves, of course. I got so flustered I let go of my stroller (we were on a hill), and in an effort to save my stroller another mom let go of her stroller. Oh, it was a sad mess. There is something just so pathetic about the idea of a herd of new moms losing their composure like that – en masse – at the prospect of a hunky movie star running past.
4. Bonnie Raitt lived in my hometown and dated an older friend of mine for a while. We call this friend “the perpetual bachelor,” because he’s a serial monogamist, a Clint Eastwoody world-adventurer type who makes documentaries that no one has ever seen. I don’t know what it is about him but he makes all the women swoon. Anyway, he would come to our annual sing-for-your-supper Christmas parties and this one year he invited Bonnie. I was beside myself with anticipation! I had visions of her bringing a group of other Grammy winning singers – maybe even Bono! – to our little sing-along, but she had something else to do so she couldn’t make it. But she nearly came. Bonnie Raitt nearly came to my Christmas party.
That right there nearly makes me famous.
I’ve always wanted her to get rid of that cow-lick. What about you?
5. Way back before she was famous I took a semester-long novel writing class from Ann Lamott, who grew up in my community. I’ve run into her all over town and at writer’s workshops, probably 16,000 times – her brother even came to my wedding – but she never seems to recognize me, so I don’t like her one little bit. Love her writing though.
Photo credit: James Hall
6. My father was once in an elevator with Jim Jones of the People’s Temple. My father said he was creepy – and my father had a lot of creepy friends, so if he said the guy was creepy…that’s really saying something.
7. A few weeks ago, I was in the same room as Nigel Lythgoe, which means Nigel and I are practically on a first name basis.
I DID NOT SLEEP WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD.
8. When I was single and working in San Francisco, I used to stop every morning for a to-go coffee at the Dipsea Cafe in Mill Valley. Most mornings I would see George Lucas sitting alone at a table, eating his breakfast. I swear to God that man had a fierce crush on me. Fierce. Okay, well, maybe not. Maybe I imagined it.
Me & a friend at The Dipsea, back in my “George Lucas is making goo-goo eyes at me” days.
He used to look across the dining room making goo-goo eyes at me, just like this, I swear to Choobaka!
9. When I lived in Ireland I saw Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson riding their bicycles down Baggott Street! And get this - one day I was walking through Temple Bar and Bono came walking down the street alone right past me! I’m not one to throw myself at celebrities but let me tell you, I considered it. He was just smiling at everybody and no one was pestering him for his autograph, which I found very, very strange. So I got a grip on myself and just walked past him.
Then one night about a year later I was sitting in the pub at the Baggot Street Inn and there he was again, sitting up at the bar just like a person! Was Bono stalking me? You be the judge! Okay, actually he was sitting with the lead singer of the Corrs! Of course, I nearly died! I hysterically pointed him out to the group of Irish people I was sitting with and do you know what their reaction was? —> They shrugged and said stuff like, “Bono’s a gobshite.”
Apparently, Irish people think famous people are assholes. Jeez.
10. By far the most famous famous, memorable person I ever met was Czeslaw Milosz. I don’t care about all the other celebrity sightings – he was the one person I really wanted to meet, and when I met him that man gave me a bear hug and it’s such a heart-warming story I’m going to write about it in a post, so stay tuned!
I. DID. NOT.
Linking up with Stasha!
You might also like...
I Miss These Things
Top 10 Hodge Podge
10 Things An Irish Husband Should Not Do
Mommy’s Rant
Stuff I’ve Heard
Love your list. Especially #10. And the Bono sighting. Saw U2 in concert last summer and really thought I’d be unaffected. Wrong. Truly a rock star.
I can’t believe I’ve never been to a U2 concert, but I haven’t. I’m jealous.
Bono sighting more than once??? Can’t wait to read your Csezlaw Milosz story!
I met and shook hands with Oliver Stone when he was in Malaysia to film a Motorola ad, and they were using the club I worked at as a location. He thanked me for being so hospitable! (yes, I worked for a club when I was 24, as the Events Manager, so glamorous right?)
I can totally see you working at a club and shmoozing with Mr. Stone!!
The most famous person I ever met was Fidel Castro. I was so excited that I jumped him. For real.
You have had a lot of brushes with the famous… LOVE that description of the Sean Penn incident!
Wow! You’ve met and seen quite a few celebrities! I’m living in the wrong country and city
Very cool!
so I lived in new york for more than twenty years and I got nuthin. Well. I worked for Galway Kinnell for a little while and when I told my mom about my new job her first response (I swear to god) was “you’re not going to sleep with him, are you?” I’m not sure if she was worried or jealous (Galway being QUITE the romantic poet back in the day). I didn’t. Sleep with him. Not that he asked. But Czeslaw? hmm…would sleeping with his books count, do you think? And you have a story about him? I bow down.
20 years in NY and nothing?? Hey – Galway Kinnel, that’s something! I love what your mom said! She sounds like she’d get along fine with my mom! I do indeed have a Czeslaw story – a good one. I will write it soon. (-:
Awesome. Did you sleep with Rick Springfield?
NO, I DID NOT SLEEP WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD. Swear to God. My friend did!
Are we following denial, admittance, guilt concept here? Not that I know who Rick Springfield is…
Celebrities totally are gobshite. But I am very excited to read your Czeslaw Milosz story. Very!!
I’m Nearly Almost Practically Famous http://t.co/zqpkfUTg by @adothemomalog #MondayListicles
Why did you not sleep with Rick Springfield? I don’t understand….
Wow….you seem to be a celebrity magnet! I can only think of one celebrity that I’ve been in close physical proximity to and that was in high school. It was Shemar Moore who was on Young and the Restless at the time. He showed up when my cheerleading squad was at a competition at Magic Mountain.
Ah, yes, Czeslaw Milosz…from my native Lithuania! (thanks google) All kidding aside, I’ve been asked twice in my adult life if I am Lithuanian. (I’m not) You are just full of stories, Ado. I would love to sit down and have a drink with you and listen to your adventures. As for mine, I once salsa danced with Edward James Olmos. I also walked Micky Rooney and Kirk Douglas down the red carpet, separately. That’s about it…I swear on Chewbaka!
Oh crap! And I forgot Gerard…how could I forget Gerard Butler, the guy I treated like an extra because I didn’t recognize him as the star of the movie.
If you’re Lithuanian maybe Czeslaw is Apache? (-:
GERARD BUTLER??? OMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!
I think, we have the same taste for a choice, I do love also Rick Springfield…
OMG! That is insane. I can’t believe the number of people you have had run-ins with. The only celebs I’ve ever seen are Greg Louganis (granted it was when he was winning the Olympics and all) and Jimmy Fallon. That one was pretty cool. I have to admit I have a teensy bit of a crush on him.
JIMMY FALLON – swoon!
I did NOT sleep w. Rick Springfield: http://t.co/2b49v21t
I’m impressed with the fact Carlos Santana knows your name! NICE!
My run ins have been quite mild. Most recently I dined a table away from Bobby Flay. Alas, no words were exchanged.
He doesn’t know my name. He knew it for about 10 seconds many moons ago, and then he forgot it – so it was even worse than not being known in the first place! (-:
I saw Billy Joel puke in an elevator once. And yet I still love him.
Wow. That’s amazing. (-:
I cannot get over how many famous people you’ve met/seen/almost seen! My sister and I have a joke that a “famous” newscaster in our area is stalking us. He worked at our local station when we were kids, then moved to where my dad lived after my parents divorced, then moved to our college area. We’d see him walking his dog, at the grocery store, everywhere! He was clearly a stalker.
I’m sorry your OMG Santana moment in the car got sullied later on. Celebrities are gobshite. (I have vowed to use that word at least 3 times today, that being usage number one.)
Ellen
And I think you are overcompensating with your denial for Rick Springfield saying he ‘was’ a hottie. He still is. Saw him in concert about 4 years ago. Yes, you read that correctly. I did not say 1984, I said 4 years ago. He does have his own personal celebrity cruise thing going on if you would like another shot. Just helping a sister out.
I think Rick S. was hot back then but is way, way hotter now! He is like a fine wine that gets better with age. I didn’t know he still does concerts. !
I could hardly read the rest because I was laughing so hard about the moms losing control of their strollers. Which shouldn’t be funny due to the babies in them. And yet…
Great list!
Whether walking the red carpet, publishing in respected and influential magazines or taking a place in the record books, becoming famous requires patience and strategy..
I love this list! But I’m confused about a rumor I heard…did you or did you not sleep with Rick Springfield?
I. DID. NOT. SLEEP. WITH. RICK. SPRINGFIELD!
I would not have been able to resist the Bono sighting. first, or second time.
my encounters have mostly been hockey players….it’s a Canadian thing I guess. Most people are not thrilled to hear Don Cherry used to come to your sports games and you ate dinner at his house. But many find it interesting that Dan Aykroyd is from my home town. multiple sightings, encouters, parties at his cottage….impromptu blues jams in local bars. It’s almost not thrilling anymore
And of course, we have The Tragically Hip too. Not bad for a little town in Ontario.
Dan Akroyd is from your hometown? And you go to his COTTAGE? Man, that is impressive. (-:
hahah i cannot believe i forgot Rick Springfield for my list!! argh!
I’m not sure I buy the Rick Springfield story there Ado.
A friend huh? I love this list – I’ve had some star sightings working in the hotel industry for years. Aretha Franklin was by far the most intimidating – wooooo – she’s got presence! Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas was NOT friendly at all and looked like a total hag. Sheryl Crow was so much smaller in person, John Mayer seemed really nice before he became a bit douchy…Josh Groban was THE sweetest (he dated a January (Jones) – that practically means he dated me!). I even went on a tour bus that was Shania Twain’s! Yes. I have stories. 
January, I had no idea you were a GROUPIE!
Wow! That’s some serious celebrity! I love that Josh Grobin is sweet and dated a January. And I agree that John Mayer is a d-word-bag. Fergie, wow.
You’re practically a celebrity yourself!!!
Seriously awesome stories, though
xo
Love your take on this list. And I love Bono… so U2 years ago in concert and have been in love with Bono and them ever since. I even got my kids in on it.
I LOVE your list! It was so much fun to read!!
Oh @AdoTheMomalog, I love you. http://t.co/47Q8nkp5
You are a sweetheart Mary! (-:
I think you are protesting too much LOL You are practically famous yourself and I’m sure Mr Lucas was totally crushing on you. Working the hospitaliyt biz here in Toronto I’ve met a few myself. Surprisingly nicest, Matt Dillon, funniest, Ozzy Osbourne, most miserable and cheap, Donny Osmond
NO WAY, Donny Osmond was miserable and cheap??? I’m crushed! I’d love to meet Ozzy.
Bono is the most intense and amazing performer I have ever had the chance to see live. Awesome.
Love your list of celebrities. I haven’t met up with any as famous before.
Ok, I’m totally jealous! I was in my late teens, having out downtown Seattle and going to shows every weekend in the height of the grunge explosion (early 90′s) and I STILL do not have even 1 famous person encounter to talk about – lol! Where was Chris Cornell and Ann Wilson when I needed them? So of course, I love your list. I would have have been able to keep my cool around Carlos Santana, I can’t even imagine….I think you are my celebrity friend!
In my own mind Anna! Ha!
um, rick springfield. OH. MY. GOD. (OH. MY. GOD.). do you know how many times i have busted out with jesse’s girl at inappropriate moments? no, of course you don’t, but trust me: it’s a lot. so you’re kind of my hero right now. for, you know, knowing that girl and all. uh-huh. right.
I didn’t! I didn’t!
But God I loved that song Jessie’s Girl…
Ok, I GOTTA know…surely your friend gave you details about Rick. If you’d be so kind to post any details that you can here & anything you feel you can’t – EMAIL me! LOL
And he still tours doing about 100 shows a year for a rabid fan base. The man does not look, nor act on stage, like a 62 year old. HOT doesn’t begin to describe him…
This was hilarious! Just a couple of weeks ago I kept staring at this guy in a tiny little restaurant in Venice (CA), trying to figure out where I’d met him before. It turned out I hadn’t ever met him before. But he was Tim Robbins so he looked awfully darn familiar. And, he was nice enough not to ask the restaurant manager to move him out of eye-range of a crazy wannabe stalker… Ah, yes, we all have our 15 minutes of fame – I’m just glad that so far mine’s not infamy.