It was a really icy day. In fact I really didn't think I was going to drive at all but the roads seemed to be clearing off, our city does a great job of prep when they hear about approaching weather (take the hint Dallas TX!). So I get a ping about 9 minutes away and find this yoga studio. Out comes this very lovely young lady who had just completed a work out. We get all buckled in for the ride and I introduce myself. Turns out my passenger was Alexandra Ncube the lead actress in the traveling broadway musical, "The Book of Mormon."
Like all the famous people I've met to date, she was not at all pretentious. She didn't put on airs or act like she was something special. That's the coolest thing, in every walk of life people are just people. She even asked me about Uber and the whole tip situation because as a traveling group they use Uber a lot but were confused as to whether they should be tipping. I gave her the official party line.
About a month later I picked up this guy, his band mates and their bus driver. The destination was the Cotillion which is a small venue that features music acts in a more cozy setting. One of my favorite places, I actually saw Boston perform there. So I ask the passengers if they are famous, the bus driver says, "He is," pointing to my new co-pilot, "I'm just the bus driver."
So I turn to my front seat passenger and ask if he's any good. He says, quite shyly, "I've written a couple of songs." Turns out he is a country singer. I don't listen to country - ever. He laughed and said I wouldn't know his music. Yeah, he was Jon Pardi. And yes he's written a few songs like "Head Over Boots." You might have heard it, it's a gold record. And I have his autograph too - but I still don't listen to country (sorry Jon) - but it's a nice tune.
Famous people don't get into my car and say, "Hi, I'm famous you should know me." They are just like everyone else. It's always so surprising to find out who's in my front seat.
The day I met Arthur he was headed to work out. He had a rather large gym bag and, surprisingly, a yoga mat. His destination turned out to be this non-descript gray building on the far south part of the city. As we're riding I make small talk like I always do and I asked what he did for a living, he replied, "I play football for the Ravens." Right I'm thinking. . . but I ask, "The Baltimore Ravens? The football team?"
"Nooooo" I respond.
"Yes, really," he says.
Then he gets out his cell phone and starts searching through it. "What are you going to do, show me a photo?" I ask? "If that's what it takes for you to believe me," he responded. He showed me his photo and I had a good laugh.
He told me that he works out with a few of the Saints, I think he said daily, during the off season. He and his family are from Wichita so this is where he comes in the off season, this is all related to me so matter of fact... like why would anything be any different just because he plays for a pro football team? And yes I have Arthur Brown's autograph too.
Most recently I picked up a very tired young man on my side of town. The name came up on the app as Shaquille. The only thing I could think of when I picked him up is how accurately his parents had picked his name. I've never met the "real" Shaquille but this guy could definitely be related. Very tall, medium athletic build. You could tell he had been out late the night before, still dressed in his evening duds.
When he got in he was quiet at first, it was going to be a longer ride across town. I offered him water in case he was hung over but he just said he was tired and ready to get to his own bed. Turns out he is a student and while he started out wanting to be a meteorologist he said the course work interfered with basketball practice (and no, I didn't catch on at this point - doh!). So he took several courses along the psychology degree path and finally decided to go into the FBI. I asked about grades and he said he had good grades, FBI academy will require that.
Very uncharacteristically I said, "I have got to get a photo of those rings!" And so I did... along with his autograph because, as I tell all the "famous people" I meet, one day this will be worth something and you'll see me on Pawn Stars selling them and making the big bucks... and we all have a good laugh before saying good bye :)
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