Well I didn’t actually meet these people but for a few, but have seen some passing by.
Flying back from the Philippines I stopped in Japan and Aerosmith came walking past my gate going to Chicago. I didn’t say anything but watched them shop, kinda surreal considering the location.
While TDY in L.A. I saw Jody Foster outside the terminal, (tiny woman), and Fabio walking from a gate. Shirt unbuttoned and all, I swear. What was weird that is his posse was an old lady and some dude. Also in L.A. I struck up friends with the guy on roller skates at Venise Beach that is in many movies and boardwalk murals. Quite the guy. Great guitar tone too. I think it was because I tipped him though.
Near the baggage claim in Chicago, Little Richard was there, makeup on too, good grief, with a huge entourage which I thought was quite humorous. Also in Chicago, Isiah Thomas walked by, his suit musta cost 2 G’s. NBA players are tall, and look the rich part.
When my Mom flies out to see her sister in Vermont, Jerry Seinfeld’s In-Laws pick her up and they have dinner at their house. I always thought that was pretty cool. She’s an avid photographer, so I saw the pictures. No sign of the millions their daughter enjoys though.
I met all of Metallica at an Exodus concert in San Fran, they were damn near midgets which was surprising. James had a large security guard and lotsa girls talking to him. I was smashed and a bit to fwd, he held up his hand as to say “wait a sec drunk tard” and when he was done talking to a girl, was quite cordial to talk to me, considering my state.
In the mid 80’s we booked a room at a hotel next to the Madison Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin for the Iron Maiden Powerslave tour. After the concert, there was a huge line and security not letting anyone into the hotel. We showed our keys and were let into our rooms. I went down to the game room, and Adrian Smith (the guitarist for Maiden) was playing pool. That was cool.
Janet Reno was on a American Eagle flight in Chicago once, but I choose not to go look, blarrrg.
Almost forgot, in L.A. TDY, they inducted Chuck Yeager into some aviation walk of fame near the old Hilton, so I got his autograph, Bob Hoover was there too. I have a pin and signed flyer from that.
My brother-in-law is an engineer for Hewlett Packard, and got me pit pass VIP tickets to an Road America Elkhart Lake CART race. As it was a HP VIP ticket, I was supposed to be a Caterpillar Tractor manager or some **** from Iowa to get me in. We had full access to Bobby Rahal’s private tent, hung out with him, Brian Herta, and their pit crews, (no Devid Letterman though). Rahal won Indy, so it was cool to meet him, not to mention Miller Lite was the sponsor, and they had ice cold vats of it! Got 2 model cars signed.
Although I haven’t met TOAD and my union doesn’t allow mechanics to fly jumpseat unlike flight attendants and the oh so important dispatchers unless there is an official mechanical problem to monitor, I did draw a pilot a crayon picture on my way to Wichita last week, and he let me see the cockpit and wear his hat!
That was the most sweetest and cool.
