Famous People

     When I was younger we used to hang out outside Wrigley Field after a game. Before gentrification and the huge change to Wrigleyville, the players would park outside on the left-field side of the park. Not too many people really knew about this and there was usually just a handful of people waiting. I remember what a thrill it was to meet Manny Trillo, Jose Cardinal, Rick Monday, Don Kessinger. But I wasn't starstruck about meeting my heroes. They seemed like cool guys who took the time to chat with us, autograph our programs and joke around. As I got a bit older my dad would take me to the Cubby Bear, a bar across from the main gate at Clark and Addison. A number of players used to go in for a few beers and talk to the fans. I met some of the opposing players as well, most memorably Mike Schmidt. Again, I never got starstruck when meeting these great ballplayers.

     At 14 I met all of Blood, Sweat, and Tears. They had an album signing at the JC Penneys in Woodfield Mall. The turnout was so bad. Me and another girl.  I sat and chatted with Bobby Colomby and David Clayton Thomas, discussing the different songs they had done. Just like I had known them all my life.

     A Cheap Trick album signing a few years later. Again, not a big turnout. They were promoting their album Dream Police to the hometown crowd. I guess the hometown didn't really care. They were such nice guys. Yes, I know that most famous people have a public and private persona. But every time I ran into any of the guys from Cheap Trick they were just as nice as could be. I ran into Tom Petterson at a concert at the Ryman Auditorium last year. I don't usually approach people but I figured from one Rockfordian to another, why not? Again, he was just as nice as he could be.

     I don't get nervous when I meet someone famous. I am respectful and never take up too much of their time. I never ask for autographs. I live in Nashville and have run into a few famous people. And contrary to popular belief, you hardly ever see someone famous in Nashville. But it happens. I have never kept track of all the famous people I have met. The only one that mattered was Robert Lamm from the group Chicago. I DID get nervous meeting him. I almost barfed on his shoes. I tried to ask if I could get a special picture of just he and I. He put one hand on my arm, the other on my shoulder and said: "let's get that picture." Oh. My. God. You can tell from the picture that I felt like I was going to be sick. But since then, I have seen him three times. Once asked for his autograph and he agreed. He signed my right arm. Two days later I got it tattooed because it was almost faded out. I had the opportunity to show him. He didn't quite believe it was forever.

     There is one person that I will have a hard time holding it together if I were to ever meet him. That is Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. That is another story for another day.