The Thrill of Celebrity Sightings!

I consider myself a very grounded individual living in the "real" world. I don't live in Los Angeles or attend red carpet events. However, for some reason I've had what I consider to be more than my fair share of celebrity sightings. And that's just fine by me because as silly as it sounds the truth is that there is something about a close encounter with a celebrity that makes me feel, well, just a little bit special.

My first celebrity sighting was the ultimate rock music fan's dream. I was working as a waitress in a swanky restaurant in Boulder, CO. The restaurant was located in the Hotel Boulderado, a historic landmark and host to such lavish events such as Harry Connick, Jr.'s fairy tale wedding to Jill Goodacre. The restaurant was on the second level of the hotel and opened up to a mezzanine balcony. The front desk, grand staircase and lobby were all visible from our wait staff perch.

One night, when it was near time to go home, the kitchen staff was cleaning up and we were counting our money when…it happened. A very tall, wild haired blonde man strolled through the lobby with a few other guests. Something electric was in the air and everyone felt it. We looked and realized it was legendary Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant. Boom! We were all star struck.

He chatted with the front desk and then turned and yes, yes, started up the grand staircase to our little restaurant. Be cool, everybody, we don't want to scare the celebrities away! He came to our front door as we all hung out the back door trying to sneak a peek. He was tall, towering over the sous chef who greeted him. The super cool rocker asked for a bowl of soup and, much to our dismay, was told we were closed. Denied! From that day forward Hal was our least favorite manager. But the thrill of being just this close to serving Robert Plant a bowl of soup still lingers to this day.

My second celebrity sighting came soon after the first. I was at the Denver airport and for some reason had a young guy from the airline helping me with my bags. We walked together, and another man crossed our path. The young man and I immediately looked at each other as if to say "is that who I think it is?" We turned around in unison and…yes, it was Ice T! How weird. Right here at the airport by himself. Now, having seen Ice T perform the night before, I considered us old friends and thought I was pretty hip. "Um, Ice T?" He turned. "Great show last night!" He sized me up, thanked me, waved and continued on his path. Next day the dear diary headlines would sell out "Nerdy Air Traveler Spots Music Heavy at Denver International!"

My third celebrity sighting was like a reunion. I was walking down a long block of tall buildings in New York City with a friend on a cold January day. The only other person on the street was walking towards us, bracing against the wind. He passed us, my friend and I looked at each other with the same "is that who I think it is?" We turned around. There he was again, Ice T, but this time on the other side of the country. Apparently, Ice T and I were on tour together except I was the only one who knew.

Just a few years later, again in New York City, I was enjoying the day checking out Broadway with a friend when another tall man caught my attention. He was walking towards us and laughing uncontrollably. We looked and it hit us immediately. It was Kevin Nealon from Saturday Night Live finding humor off set. Now, New York City is great no matter what happens but seeing an icon of an icon of the Big Apple was just delicious!

Okay ladies, this is the one that we've all dreamt about. I was in New Orleans on a school field trip (if you play your cards right you too can find a school that takes field trips to the Big Easy). We had just one night to take a break from our hectic site studies so a pack of us headed to the French Quarter. After taking in some fantastic music and chatting it up with the locals we decided to move on to our next adventure (because in N'Awlins the trolleys run all night if you know what I mean). Through word of mouth, we heard about a kickin' funk band playing outside the French Quarter so we crammed ourselves into a couple taxis and headed out.

And was it worth it. We unfolded ourselves from the taxis to find a jumpin' late night spot. The bar was packed, the music was out-of-this-world and the crowd was fantastic. Good decision. After a few sets, the band took a break from their brass blaring, drum beating, sweating grooves and the crowd spilled out onto the patios. A few of us hung out inside just laughing and talking.

Then it happened.

When he walked in you just knew. There was something different about this man. There was something about him that was extraordinary. OH MY GOD it's Jude Law. Our internal monologues shrieked with pleasure. There was no denying it, we were in the presence of OH MY GOD it's Jude Law. And to my surprise, the nice young man (of extremely hefty proportions) that I had been talking to was Jude Law's bodyguard.

We played it cool. Well most of us anyway. Some, who's names shall not be mentioned, spent their last three dollars to buy the star a beer. When she delivered it, in person of course, it was met by the un-tastely toast "Here's to F*ck!" Thanks for that memorable moment, Jude.

With no grasp on Jude's romantic status at the time, it was only later that we realized Jude's wandering eye that night was just a precursor of bad behavior that would eventually cost him his Sienna. As tabloids caught wind of Jude's extracurricular activities in the Big Easy we would learn that it was that night (one of many apparently) that Jude was shagging the Nanny. Ewwwwww!

But it the heat of the New Orleans night we were still starry eyed and Jude could do no wrong. There was nothing that could make us leave him, he would have to leave us first….wait just a minute OH MY GOD it's Kate Winslet. Goodbye Jude, hello sister dearest! Just when we thought it couldn't get any better.

Apparently Jude Law and Kate Winslet were filming together in New Orleans. But unlike Mr. Law, Ms. Winslet wasn't on the prowl, she wasn't scoping anyone out. She was just having fun in a radiantly beautiful movie star kind of way. Many of us were more star struck by Kate than her co-star and who wouldn't be? I mean Jude is gorgeous but Kate Winslet, star of Titanic, Sense and Sensibility, the super dark Heavenly Things, is a movie star.

We had left Jude alone (except for the beer incident) but there were some among us who couldn't pass up the opportunity to have a picture taken with Kate Winslet. One woman in our group approached the petite actress and gently pleaded for a picture. With grace and tact the actress replied: "Just one problem, I've been telling everyone all night that I am not the girl from Titanic." You can't fool us Kate, we know our dear Rose DeWitt Bukater when we see her! She obliged under the condition that we didn't cause a scene. The best approach, pretend we're dancing with her and do the famous "arms-length" friends shot. Thanks, Kate!

My last and most recent celebrity sighting was sweet and the only overseas encounter. I was visiting Munich on a rainy day. The streets were extremely crowded and bustling with tourists. While my boyfriend and I paused to discuss where we wanted to go in the city, a pretty young woman and a shorter older man walked by. I had just seen the hilarious sequel to Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, so his face was fresh in my mind. It was the adorable and talented Dustin Hoffman.

He and his companion were also at a crossroads deciding which way to go. As we all stood in pause, I desperately wanted to go up and shake the man's hand so I could truly say "I met Dustin Hoffman." I scoped out the crowded street and immediately envisioned a stampede of fans erupting if any attention was brought to the actor. Damn! I just didn't want to ruin his anonymity and didn't want to be remembered as the spaz American who started a riot in Munich. But all the same, the encounter brought a little sunshine into the otherwise rainy day.

That day in Munich was last year and as the months roll by I can't help but wonder if my path will cross with another famous face. It's silly and completely random but it still brings a little smile to my face when I think of Dustin Hoffman in the rain or Robert Plant asking for soup. What is it about these encounters that produces that tingling feeling of excitement? Perhaps it is like seeing a rare bird whose habitat is nothing like yours. You know it might be the only time in your life that this creature shares its space with you. The confluence of events that lead you to be in just the right place at just the right time is just too much to grasp.

Maybe, despite my perception that I live a small life, these sightings tell me that I am living a big life in step with those who are considered ultra fortunate. Maybe my life is more exciting and luxurious than I think. After all if I'm unintentionally visiting the same spots as movie stars there must be something fabulous going on? Or, maybe I've just watched one too many Hollywood movies.