Kevin Bacon Sightings
Kevin Bacon is in town filming a movie.
Everyone is excited about this in Columbia. It’s not often you see or hear of a famous movie star being in South Carolina unless it’s someone doing a concert at the Colonial Center.
One of the local radio stations is promoting “Kevin Bacon sightings” and asking people to call in when they see Kevin and tell about that experience.
The story goes that one evening a lady saw Kevin and was talking with the radio folks live about seeing him. Shortly after that, a man called in to talk about his Kevin Bacon sighting. The man was particularly knowledgeable about the star and his work so the conversation lasted longer than usual.
“Aren’t you going to ask me where I’ve seen Kevin Bacon?” The man questioned. The radio personality, realizing that they had gotten a bit side tracked, said. “Well, where did you see him?”
“I see him in the mirror every morning.”
It was Kevin himself who had a colleague listening to that station and who told him the “Kevin Bacon Sightings” theme was going on. Kevin had decided to call in, too!
I hear they talked even more before he hung up. Sure wish I’d had a chance to hear the conversation.
Can you fathom being a movie star or another famous person and not being able to go anywhere without someone recognizing you?
I have written my first book that’s about ready to come out and some marketing has already begun for that effort…particularly locally. I was opening the door at a local watering hole to have a late dinner with my son. The lady that was coming out said, “Aren’t you the one who wrote that Reflections from a Country Girl book?” I smiled and said yes, we talked for a few minutes, and then went on about our business. I thanked her for her kind comments.
That’s my only “brush with fame” but it did feel sort of nice.
I imagine, however, that if you’re a “real” celebrity, it gets old after awhile.
Take for instance, when I was in New York a few years back and decided to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art early one Sunday morning with a friend.
We were viewing the special exhibit of Degas paintings. They were exquisite and, since we were there so early on a Sunday morning, there were very few others in the room with us.
I saw a man through the corner of my eye, well covered with a heavy parka, moving along the exhibit toward me in the opposite direction. As we met and stood side by side, I remarked what a wonderful artist Degas was and how much he must have enjoyed his subjects…all of whom were young, beautiful and scantily clad young women.
The man turned and, looked me straight in the face as he said, “Yes, and I am enjoying them as well!” We both smiled and exchanged a few more word then he was off to the side elevator. You see, others in the room immediately recognized his voice. His cover was blown, but not before he had a chance to see what he had come for.
My friend quickly ran up to me in an excited tone as he said, “Do you know who that was???”
“Sure I do.” I said in a much calmer voice than his. “Too bad he couldn’t stay longer. He was really enjoying the pictures.”
The man was Steve Martin.
Celebrities with lots of talent like Kevin Bacon and Steve Martin are easily spotted in a crowd. It makes our day when we see someone like that.
I’m not sure how Steve Martin is in real life other than during that pleasant encounter, but I hear from some reliable sources that Kevin Bacon is great to work with and seems a genuinely nice guy. I’m glad to know that stardom has not gone to his head. I also understand he is a dedicated family man.
Now that’s my kind of celebrity!
My wish for you today: That you have a chance to spot a celebrity once on your life. If you are so lucky to do so, I hope you find that person to be congenial and kind. More importantly, if you ever become famous remember that, no matter how often you are recognized, it’s always better to be nice to someone when you’re out in public. If this is the case, someone might just have a kind word to say about you.
Tomorrow: Another celebrity sighting!
~Joellen