Me and Tony Soprano? We’ve got history. He just never knew it...
Oh the places and people I encounter. Some just beg to be shared. Like this one.
The happiest of birthdays to HBO’s The Sopranos. It premiered 25 years ago.
Me and Tony Soprano? We’ve got history.
I was stuck in the LAX hubbub in like 2002 waiting for a flight to Hawaii for a photo shoot. I know, tough assignment. Actually it turned out to be but that’s for another time.
I always traveled with a portable DVD player in those days---no video iPods, no iPhones then---how archaic. I was excited to get on board. I had the Sopranos latest season boxset and was itching to watch it. In first class. Of course. With free cocktails. Of course. Thanks to frequent flyer miles. Of course.
The line to the ticket counter was endless. It shifted a bit and I saw Tony Soprano, I mean James Gandolfini, with a four-man entourage about six people ahead of me. I was starstruck. And hoped to seize the opportunity.
I reached into my backpack, pulled out a Sharpie and the DVD set, hoping to get his autograph. (I’m an Iowan. We do that sort of thing.) It looked like the group was deep in conversation so I held back waiting for a more opportune time. It never came. The line moved, the Gandolfini group got their tickets and disappeared into the abyss.
There was an extremely well-dressed woman---hat, gloves, long black dress, fur coat---in a wheelchair behind me. She had seen what was going on and while I was putting my things away, she told me in the most luxurious and elegant voice I had ever heard that I was very respectful and had great self-control.
Minutes later, my entourage got our tickets and I turned to tell the woman goodbye and to have a safe trip.
She said in that deep, silky operatic voice, “I shall and you too. Have a wonderful trip.” And then with a sly smile and wink she added, “It’s been a pleasure Mr. SoPRAHHNO.”
Years later while cooking dinner, I was half listening to the TV in the other room and heard that unmistakable voice. I looked up. I recognized that face.
It was Maya Angelou.
I met her! At LAX! Kind of. I figured she was someone but didn’t know she was that someone.
Had I known that at the airport, I would have had her autograph the DVD box.
Had I known that at the airport, I would have had her autograph the DVD box.
I didn’t so I didn’t.
Another brush with fame. One of very few.
Great story. So amazing that you remembered Maya Angelou's voice!
I have a great celeb story: It was from Keith Richards that I learned cold saki was cool (until then, I'd always had it hot).
Living in NYC in the 80s, a friend, Tim, worked as the doorman in Keith Richard's Building. Once, we were walking by and decided to chat with Tim (and kind of hope we'd see Keith). We chatted for a while, and nothing, so we left.
The next day, Tim's wife (whom I worked with) told me that about three minutes after we left, Keith came down the elevator and waited for his limo in the lobby. He had a cold bottle of Saki, and asked Tim if he had any cups. Tim did, so they stood there and shared the bottle of Saki while Keith waited for his limo.
"What? I said. "Cold Saki?"
"Oh yeah, it's a thing."
So that's how I learned from Keith Richards that cold saki is a thing.