The average person spends 35% of their lives sleeping.
16% of our time is spent working.
How about eating and drinking? It's about 8%.
And if you are like the average American, you spend 11% of your life in front of the television. (I don't.)
That leaves some time for using the bathroom, having sex, doing household activities, and a social life.
Most of our lives are spent repeating similar activities. But every now and then we have a unique experience that become memorable... out of the ordinary.
I had one such experience when I was an adviser to the President of the United States of America.
The year was 1994 and I was living in Plano, Texas.
It was holiday shopping season and I found myself at a Best Buy just off Central Expressway in Dallas. I was browsing the software aisle seeking something that my two-year old son might enjoy.
Of course, I was very familiar with many of the titles because I had recently started my own software review newsletter, The Dallas / Fort Worth Software Review. As I browsed the shelves filled with educational software, I looked up to see a neatly dressed gentleman doing the same.
It was none other than George W. Bush.
Mr. Bush had recently won the election for the Governor's seat and he was one of the many that were in Best Buy doing some shopping. I went up to him with my hand extended and congratulated him on his recent victory, noting that I had voted for him.
He thanked me and I asked him what he was looking for. He mentioned that he was looking for good educational software for his daughters, Jenna and Barbara. Because I was familiar with so many of the titles, I was able to "advise" Governor Bush on some age-appropriate quality titles that his daughters might enjoy.
Once again, he thanked me and I went back to my shopping. As I left the aisle, it was then I noticed the two suited men, one standing on either side of the aisle. Obviously, they were not there to shop.
Since Governor Bush went on to become a President, I guess you could say I was a "Presidential Advisor."
The moral of the story?
Catchy headlines draw readers.
And on the fun side, it's always interesting to share "brushes with celebrity."
How about you? Who have you encountered in an unlikely place? Please leave your comments below.
Hank Jr. used to drive through my home town... My daughter wrote a blog post about it, won tickets to a sporting event over the story, and we've had a lot of laughs over the years about Hank Jr. I'm betting he's had a few himself.
Her blog post is linked below.
http://pagesofparenthood.net/blog/?p=412
I once got in the middle of a U2 video shoot and was summarily escorted out of the shoot by large bodyguards :)
Hey Joel,
At the bright old age of twenty, I owned a pet store. One morning a big car with cow horns on the front pulled up in front of my place and MOOOO'ed
Out popped an attractive woman and her male companion looking for tropical fish. As they walked around the store buying everything in sight, I tried to tell them that they should start small, but they really wanted the works.
As they signed a substantial check, I noticed that the names on the check were Tammy Wynette and George Jones. I've also had brushes with Fred Astaire, once owned Tiny Tim's recording contract and of course there was the time that Tiger Woods joined us at the networking dinner for jvAlert Live in San Diego.
You never know who you might meet --- and yes, it's fun to rub elbows with amazing people.
Enjoy life! It's an incredible journey!
Yes I met Hulk Hogan twice. Once on a flight from from Atlanta to Pittsburgh. Talked to him and got an autograph on my flight ticket. I also met him again at a Mexican restaurant in Tampa, FL. I had him autograph the menu of my restaurant that I still have framed in my house. It was kinda cool!
I also met Raymond Burr at the San Fransisco airport in the 70"s!
Wow Joel; I did not know you lived in Plano at one time. I live in Allen. Small world indeed.
I'm creating a marketing campaign for Mike (The Situation) Sorrentino's Dark Tanning Spray product. Does that count? Loved the story Joel!
I was on holiday in Morocco and was at Richard Branson's Retreat for 3 days and he was there with some of his Virgin Galactic Astronauts, his mum and his sister and her family. We got to all the parties and were treated like personal friends of the family!
A lot of people get pretty impressed why I say I know Joel Comm and you know me.
Does that count? ;-)
Yes, you got me to read this one!
Felicia
When I was a Writer for "Jeopardy!" I was always on the lookout for celebs that I could approach to ask a question of to put on the show. One day in Santa Monica, I got the opportunity to see literally eye-to-eye with Dudley Moore. I was that tall and he was that short :)
I was a guest at a Shania Twain concert at the Hollywood Bowl with my long time friend Ben, who was a video engineer on the tour.
When sitting pre-show on the tour bus with the crew, a man came on, hung out for a few and left again. He was none other than "Mutt" Lange, Shania's hubby and the guy who broke AC/DC.
Later, while roaming backstage during the show, I almost flattened Calista Flockhart when she was rushing by and ran right into me. I helped her up, we both laughed and she said goodbye.
A minute or so later, I found myself laughing with Alan Thicke (Thicke of the night show) as he saw my crash with her and they were friends.
Dude -- that's FUNNY! I love the way you brought that all around to the power of a good headline. The news media does it all the time and we would all do well to remember you gotta' hook 'em first or what you have to say won't matter.
BRILLIANT.
--- Alan
Well, Joel, I will try not to hold you personally responsible for what became of the world we live in. Yours was only one vote.
Anyway, to the point: Once I was in San Francisco at the end of a trolley line. Colonel Sanders was just standing there. Probably for some photo shoot or something.
One time I came out of the dorm at the University in Seattle. Chief Dan George was standing on the steps. He noticed that I noticed him, and he smiled. Made my day.
Last week, my girlfriend and I went to the waterfront in the town where I now live (in Thailand). We wandered around the stage where local musicians were playing. A young woman, accompanied by a few others walked by us toward the stage. She smiled and folded her hands in a sign of respect. I thought maybe she was a student of mine. But my girlfriend told me she was one of the most popular singers in the country.
And one time I met a very famous singer in Israel. We had a couple holiday meals together at the home of a mutual friend. I didn't know he was famous at the time.
Can you believe it? I have a very close relationship with Jesus, the Son of God!
That was really catchy, I was just going to scream out and say what haven't you done Joel; a man of many parts until I finished reading the story. You caught me, it was too late.
Great Headline! I'm here right from an email that left me hanging. I forget the word that starts with Z zeigert or something like that. It is the unsatable effect we humans to complete the story.
I met "Dennis the Menace" and got his autograph in LA at a wrestling match. I was so little like 5 and I went by myself over to where he was sitting and asked for it. I thought it was pretty cool. He was still filming and not too much older than me.
I wish I could find it.
@ClayFranklin
Thank you Joel,
You are really great in writing. The way you told the story has gifted me a lot of smile and made me younger. Thanks!
I worked at a sandwich shop in college (about 6 years ago) and Donny Osmond came to the counter with his family. I was working with two high school kids and after we had served him and he sat down one of the kids leans over to me and says, "Dude, is that Donny Osmond." The other leans over and says, "Who's Donny Osmond?"
On an unrelated note, my brother worked tech support for the phone company and one day someone called to check some things on their account. He asked for the phone number and accidentally typed it incorrectly, the account that "popped" up was not the customer on the phone, but Blues Traveler's harmonica player, John Popper.
-Jeremy Butler
homemadesodaexpert.blogspt.com
Joel,
Many years ago in the 80's, I made costumes for the famous wrestling Von Erich family. I sewed for both Kerry and Kevin. Met their mom - a marvelous lady.
Winnetta
I saw public famous actor in a hotel and I greeted him but he was arrogant. :(
It was the first and last for me to give famous people like this one attention.
But it was a cool experience.