star gazing part 2 - score!

Last night at the bodega near our home, Bob found himself near the end of a long check out line behind almost a dozen NYU students, each with their arms full of those "fresh-squeezed" orange juice bottles, fruits and veggies and other munchies. Behind us was a woman, somewhere in her late 50s, blond hair falling loosely, haphazardly around her face, no makeup, and wearing glasses. I was more concern about not making her feel like I was cutting in line when I caught up with Bob, than anything else about her. In fact I stepped over near the door and waited while Bob moved slowly closer to the counter.

I looked back at the woman behind Bob and thought she looked something like Jessica Lange, though age and lack of make up were playing their part to foil my attempts at quick glances. Then finally a very handsome middle-aged man with a ski-goggle tan stepped up behind her. It was indeed Sam Shepard, no camouflage, no question about it.

I looked away, counted to ten, then slowly made my way back over to Bob who was finally at the cashier's counter. I whispered, "You have to pay very close attention to what I am about to say. Standing behind you in line is one of your favorite woman in the whole world and her handsome husband: Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard." (Of course I should have said "common-law husband," but he got my point.)

He nodded as if I had told him to get extra quarters for the laundry, and waited to look back until he had stepped over to the door to put on his gloves.

So, I have now seen two of my all-time-favorite actresses within a few blocks of my home, Meryl Streep and now Jessica, and I haven't said a word. The impulse to speak to these people is overwhelming, but I don't want to disturb their lives. Years ago I saw another Jessica and her equally famous husband, Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, on 6th Avenue in Midtown. I actually walked up to them and said, "Thank you for your work." They were polite and appreciative and I exited quickly. I've also described my exchange with Ed Harris in a previous blog post. But recently I have felt like I should hold back. Possibly a good impulse, but why did it have to happen with Jessica and Meryl?

Bob and I walked home like giddy school girls, debating whether or not I should have spoken up, practicing what we would have said, politely, inconspicuously: "Excuse me, I don't want to intrude, but I think you are one of the finest actresses of our generation and I want to thank you for your work." We repeated it as if we wanted it to come effortlessly next time we spotted a star, which will probably be the likes of Kathy Griffin or Clay Aikens, and the parts about the "finest actress of our generation" and "thank you for your work" will fall out kind of ridiculously.

Hopefully, I'll simply have some wit and grace about me, and judge wisely to keep my mouth shut if it's appropriate.