Saturday, May 15, 2004

For Bill

I want to thank everyone for your well wishes and congratulations.  I am still buzzing and so happy! 

Bill knows(http://beta.journals.aol.com/wfhbear/BETACommentsontheeventsofmylife/ ) knows why this entry is dedicated to him.  He should be proud of me, it only took me four weeks to figure it all out.  He helped me and he stayed on me to complete that assignment!  And I'm so glad he did.  Thanks Bill!

Thought I would do my weekend assignment from Scalzi,  the Blogfather. Most memorible encounter with a celerbity. 

Now I live in central Kentucky.  We do not have movie star type celebrities walking around here very often.  We have a few film crews that need our beautiful bluegrass background for horse films every so often.  But the Toby McGuire sightings did not include me, thought I enjoyed listening to those who did.

 

I have met several rock stars in my hotel cocktail waitressing days.  Eddie Money, Gregg Allman, Dickie Betts.  I was more acquainted with the Bluegrass Music stars who frequented a bar I worked.  Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Bela Fleck to name a few.  If you are not a Bluegrass fan, these names more than likely mean nothing.

 

To narrow it all down though, the most memorible encounter with a celebrity happened about two years ago.  I was attending a football invitational at one of my accounts.  It was a really big deal and I had to do the coin toss....but that is another story......Anyway, I was sitting in the V.I.P. lounge watching the ball game from high up with food and having a  great time.  We were sitting at this counter type table that faced the glass window that looked out at the field. 

 

I realized someone had takena seat next to me, and as I glanced at him I thought he looked really familiar.  It took about two seconds for me to realize this was none other than Coach Joe B. Hall!!!!!!

 

If you are a University of Kentucky fan, you understand.  Joe Hall was hand picked as the successor to lead the stongest basketball program in the country.  The torch was passed from Coach Adolph Rupp, the most famous of  all college basketball coaches.  In Bluegrass country, I was sitting next to royality.

 

He was so gracious and nice.  I say something like this to him, "I bet people tell you all the time that you look just like Joe B. Hall?"

 

Once it was established he was Joe B. Hall I said something like this, "Oh Coach, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the 1978 NCAA tournament title!" I'm certain I was all breathless and starry eyed.

 

It really was a thrill for me to talk to him for ten minutes realizing what a nice old county boy he really and truly is.  And how he appreciated, 25 years later, that people do not forget.  

 

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Working in a hotel does give you a great chance to meet famous people.  What's even more fun is meeting a real, honest hero.  That was a great encounter.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure who Bill is or Joe B. Hall. But, I do know who Keith Whitley is - "When you say nothing at all." I can listen to his music forever. So tragic how he died. Don't forget the details. You did say you'd tell us all about your adventure. Didn't you? :-) ---Robbie

Anonymous said...

Now I want to go back and work at a hotel ... I miss that business!  I'm off to do my homework that has been assigned by the blogfather. :)  Still waiting to hear about the marriage adventure. ;)

Monica

Anonymous said...

Bela Fleck! Ricky Skaggs!! Joe B. Hall!!!  Wow, you get to meet all the good ones...I don't think I would have been able to speak at all to Joe B.  Maybe just bowed my head at his greatness.  How was Ricky Skaggs?

Anonymous said...

Wow I still cant get over the eloping.   john

Anonymous said...

The Flecktones!!     Congrats, again!
V

Anonymous said...

   Eddie Money is one of my favorite singers.   I like all types of music, but have favorites in each category.  
   Which star would you like to meet if you had the chance?
    I'm glad you like the Ab Fab site on my Journal.  I love the theme song.
     How are you two newlyweds?

Debi
   

Anonymous said...

YEAH!!!!!  Good for you.

Anonymous said...

So well written and lots of fun to read....very interesting!

Anonymous said...

Boy howdy, that's the sign of a true Southerner.. when someone gets that excited at the prospect of meeting a football coach!  When Tom Landry was coaching the Cowboys, people in Dallas would almost faint if they saw him in public and talk about it as if they'd had a religious experience.  Good story and I love your frog.  ¤Holly

Anonymous said...

Aw. That's sweet. I can still hear the excitement in that memory.

Anonymous said...

I am a Kentuckian, so I understand the thrill of meeting Joe B.! Where in KY are you?  I have kin in central Ky, down near Munfordsville...
Kas