What famous or important people have you encountered in real life?, Storyworth Questions and Answers, 420 words

For a few years, I would meet my older sister, Donna, in the Phoenix, Az. area for MLB Spring Training. We stayed with our younger sister, Jane, who lived near Scottsdale, or we stayed in nearby motels. We attended several baseball games within a long week-end. Often times, we ate dinner at a restaurant called, Don and Charlie’s. It catered to the baseball crowd, and you would often see players or coaches eating dinner there. 

One particular time, we were seated across an isle and about fifty feet away from Mohamed Ali and his party. I happened to be aligned at my table so that I had a straight visual line to his table. I thought that was pretty good, but when we left the crowded restaurant, I just happened to squeeze through the door at the same time as Dusty Baker. This was after he had managed the Giants. I knew he lived in Sacramento, and I also was aware that my sister knew one of his close friends. I was ahead of Donna, and I wanted to stall Dusty long enough for her to catch up to us. I said “Hi” to him and told him that I thought he had done a great job of managing the Giants. He was very gracious and thanked me. I told him how my sister would love to meet him because they had a common friend. My sister had taught his good friend’s child in school. Just then, Donna caught up to us and they got to make their connection. It turned out that his friend was in the process of building his house in Sacramento. Soon, we were saying good bye, and he rejoined his group. They asked him who we were, and he replied, “Just some fans.”

Brian

Brian, my sister Mardean, and I were in San Fransisco walking down the stairs outside of Ghirardelli Square. Suddenly, Rod McKuen came running up the stairs.  There were no other people around and it was very exciting to see him.  Mardean and I were big fans of his.  He was gone in a flash.  

Another time, Brian and I were having lunch outside at a restaurant in Malibu.  We first noticed a lot of paparazzi around, then we saw Lindsey Lohan come out of a store and get in a car.  

I’m not sure that either of these incidences really count as a famous encounter but they are as close as I’ve come to meeting someone famous.

Mary Lou