On my way out of the San Diego airport last week, I spotted this celebrity. So did many others in the airport. His art has meant a great deal to me over the years, and to see him in person was very moving. I almost went up and said “thanks,” but decided against it, a decision I’m regretting now.
Gardner Writes
Aut Inveniam, Aut Faciam
Wow! I heard he was over 6′ tall, which surprised me.
He’s a much larger man than I had expected. Part of that is middle-aged girth, but he’s also tall, as you note.
When I pass artists I admire in public I find myself asking the same question. Do I say something about how much their work has meant to me? What an impact they have made on my life?
What I really would like to do is invite them over to my house for a cup of coffee or a meal and just chat. You know, whenever they’re in town… just drop by.
Yep. I have it from a reliable source that there’s a foolproof conversation starter with any artist or writer:
“So, what are you working on?”
Probably better than “were you really bathing your daughter in ‘Isn’t She Lovely’?”
“So what are you working on?” is a great question…unless, of course, they aren’t working on anything and you send them into an epileptic fit. 🙂
Did you hear him sing at Coretta Scott King’s funeral? (on tv) He sang a capella and really turned the church out. I was floored by the beauty and intensity of his voice. This man has still got “it”!
No, I didn’t, but I sure wish I had. I bet I could find a video of it on YouTube, though. You’ve inspired me to look.
I’ve always been a huge fan of his work, although I kinda lost track after “In Square Circle” (underrated album, in my view). My favorite is “Fulfillingness First Finale,” which has the astonishing “Creepin'” as well as other amazing tracks. A wonder indeed.
But did he see you?
I couldn’t resist. I’m sorry. 🙂
He is an uber-talented man. A living legend. If you want my advice, which you may not, but heck, this is the Internets, not exactly an advice-free zone, if you have an impulse that isn’t going to hurt anyone, like say “hi,” GO FOR IT!
On the same score, don’t beat yourself up for not approaching him. Perhaps just being in proximity to the man who birthed extraordinary experiences and feelings for you is, while qualatatively different, just as good.
Peace!
-Noel
*qualitatively
The question of “is my impulse going to hurt anyone?” is complex, I think. And everyone’s threshold is a little different in this regard, whether for the impulsive one or the one upon whom the impulse is visited. 🙂
Rather than map the complexity, much as I love doing that (it’s my mulling addiction), I will simply say that I wish I had said “thank you,” but I’m not sorry I gave him his space, particularly in that large public arena where one person’s breaking the social “surface tension” could have led in any number of places.
And I confess that I always think of John Lennon, as I imagine all musicians of his generation do, and I would never want to alarm Stevie Wonder or any musician I cared about by calling out his name….
Okay, so I did map some complexity after all.