So the Celtics are “this close” to winning their first championship in over 20 years. So in honor of that, let me share with you the story about how I got to meet them back in the 80's
I have to admit though when it comes to meeting famous people, I have a lot in common with that other famous ditsy redhead, Lucille Ricardo.
I tend to make a complete ass of myself!
Back in 1985, Netty and her friend Helene took me to the Boston Garden for my first Celtics game. At the time Helene was friendly with one of the managers. So we got to hang out outside the locker room after the game. And I proceeded to get most of the players autographs, except Kevin Mchale, who had to get home because one of his kids wasn’t feeling well. I have to give him props though he was very nice though.
I also got Carlos Clark’s autograph not once but twice, due to my “Lucy” moment. You see after I got his autograph & while I was collecting others; I was getting excited and was not pay attention to what was going on around me.
That is when the guy driving the giant floor polisher was riding around and almost ran me over. Luckily, Carlos Clark was in close proximity and pulled me out of the way before I got polished. Of course in my excitement I forgot I already got his autograph and proceeded to get another one.
Then Helene friend came out to say hi. That’s when more embarrassment ensued. He offered to take me behind closed doors and into the locker room to meet more players and get more autographs.
I won’t reveal if or who’s naughty bits I saw, but I have to share with you my face to face encounter with the famous Larry Bird.
He was in the backroom getting checked out by the medical team due to a pulled muscle or something on that line. He however was only dressed in a tee shirt and tight whities. So after we walked in, Helene’s friend need to attend to business and left me standing there with Bird.
I naturally was all flustered and could not speak. Mr. Bird did all the talking and asked if I wanted an autograph. I could not even muster a “Yes.” All I could do was nod.
So that’s concludes my embarrassing celebrity encounter stories.
I have to give more props to my Mimi, because of her I had one of my celebrity encounters. Back in 1987, Mimi & Papa took me on a vacation to the Catskills at the Brown Resort. Could it get any more gayer or Jewish. Ha Ha!
Every Saturday night, there was a “big time” performer entertaining the masses in the main showroom. This particular Saturday night was Tony Orlando. (Sorry he left Dawn at home.)
Even though at this young age, I already had vast knowledge of camp & kitsch. I was not familiar with Orlando & Dawn.
So the previous Friday night, Mimi, Papa, & I were in the hotel coffee shop when Tony Orlando & his people walked in at sat at a near by table. Mimi pointed to him and said she was “pretty sure” that it was Tony Orlando. So she reached into her purse and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. She then proceeded to coax me into going over to get an autograph. I was hesitant due to the fact Mimi was not 100% sure it was him. But finally I agreed. Plus, she bribed me with a hot fudge sundae.
So I walked over with pen & paper in hand and asked Mr. Orlando very naively if he was in fact Tony Orlando. He of course stated in a very humorous tone, “What do you think?”. I, of course, said with a little self doubt in my voice., “Yes, you are him?” He told me I was right and then he took the pen and paper from me and signed it.
I ran back to the table all excited because I just had my first face to face encounter with a celebrity. Then my Aunt Syliva, Uncle Mel & cousin Larry came into the coffee shop. I repeated the encounter to them and point to my new friend Tony Orlando. While doing so I inadvertently ripped the autograph in half.
So naturally, when my cousin Larry went over to ask for an autograph, I went with him and asked for another one. Mr. Orlando was very nice and gave me another autograph, but I had to promise not to rip it.
So in honor of my celebrity encounter, here is a clip of the talented Tony Orlando. As well as Dawn thrown in for good measure.
I’ve decided to end the negotiations with Netty & Jack to temporarily move back home. I looked over my fiances and I’ll have enough to scrimp and save to pay the extra $50 a month in rent and the money I’ll need to take the commuter rail into Boston each day for work. (If I can land a job quick enough.)
The final straw in my decision came Saturday morning, when Netty got upset because Jack hopped in the shower before her. She claimed that she called dibs first, but alas nobody heard her. So when Jack came out Netty began to yell at him.
Then somewhere in mid-argument they segwayed into a fight about who was going to drop dead first. Alaways a nice topic on a sunny Saturday morning.
That's when I knew enough is enough. It really didn’t matter who was going to go first. Because if they didn’t friggin' shut up, I was going to kill them both. Then at my murder trial, I could say their fight and nit picking induced one of my seizures and I went temporarily insane. That way I would have gotten little jail time, if any, for my crime.
So I really think it is best and safer for all parties involved that I stay way up in Haverhill and make fewer trips down to Marblehead. Until, I get my bearing back in life. That way I can foucus solely on me and what I need to do to make the improvements in my life.
I’m sorry, but I understand we all have problems and we all deserve to have our lives run accordingly to how we want. However, at this time I feel my issues have a little more significance & need a little more nurturing. I can’t be bothered right now worrying about who gets in the bathroom first or who used all the tissues and didn’t replace the box.
If Netty & Jack are mad at me for my decision, so be it. My issues are newer and more severe, but at least I’m working on them and trying to make it better. I won't be pissing and moaning for 40 years about my problems or the mistakes I made. I’m getting off my ass and I am fixing them!
