The year was 2000.
My husband and I were ensconced in a hotel room in beautiful downtown Canton, Ohio.
We had come to celebrate the millennium with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, of which my father, a former professional football player with the Los Angeles Rams, was a member.
My husband was geeking out. Over the course of the weekend, he and I had rubbed elbows with some of football’s finest. Folks like Anthony Munoz, Chuck Noll, Bob Lily, and Joe Namath.
But when did I geek out? When I rubbed elbows with Rick Springfield! In fact, I thought I was gonna die when I met Rick Springfield.
It was from our mundane hotel room that I first heard the chords of “Love is Alright” followed by “State of the Heart”.
Is it? Could it be? I pressed my face against the window.
IT WAS.
Rick Springfield was entertaining a crowd of thousands right below my room. He was the headliner at the Hall of Fame Festival Ribs Burn Off!
My husband thought I was ridiculous. Heck, he thought Rick Springfield was ridiculous. After all, it had been years since “Jessie’s Girl” was a #1 song.
Still, I had fond memories of Rick. His was the first concert I’d ever attended. (Corey Hart of Sunglasses at Night was the opening act – woot!) His songs were rockin’ yet not scary rockin’ ala Def Leppard or Poison. And he was cute!
After listening to the concert for a few minutes, pressed pathetically to the glass, I dragged my too cool husband downstairs with me. We rocked out with some of Canton’s finest.
Afterwards, we rode the elevator back to our room. Turns out there was a rent-a-cop in the elevator with us. He got a call on his walkie-talkie that Rick had been safely returned to his room on the 10th floor.
Excuse me? Rick? As in Rick Springfield?
I returned to my room where I fetched my 35MM camera (remember those?). I dragged–and I mean dragged–my beloved husband with me to the 10th floor.
Rick’s room was a party. We loitered in the hallway. A rent-a-cop sent some other fans away, but he allowed me and my husband to stay.
“Why do they get to stay?” whined the ejected (and dejected) party.
“Because they have the buttons.”
The buttons! Yes! Our hotel was reserved only for Hall of Famers and their families (and now Rick Springfield). You had to wear a special button to gain entry and, obviously, to loiter outside Rick Springfield’s hotel room.
And by golly, if it wasn’t 5 minutes later that I asked someone from Rick’s party if I could meet him and they said yes. Here’s proof:
He was a congenial, talented guy and I loved meeting him. I was sorry when he wrote his autobiography years later and came out of the closet as a sex addict. (I didn’t see that side thankfully).
So there’s my celebrity encounter. Did I tell you I also touched hands with the lead singer of Thompson Twins at a concert?
What famous folks have you met? I’d love to hear about your celebrity encounter!
Don’t forget to take a trip down memory lane and enjoy this clip of Jessie’s Girl:
This post was inspired by the great group of bloggers participating in “Finish the Sentence Friday”. Today’s prompt was “I thought I was gonna die when…” Many thanks to co-hosts Finding Ninee, The Golden Spoons, and Dancing in the Rain.
Woot indeed! I love Rick Springfield! How very blessed you were and to get a arm around the shoulder hug to boot. So cool. My celeb meet and greet took place in my mom’s antique store. Hal Linden – Barney Miller – came in and as he made a purchase I feigned ignorance as to who he was. He have off those please don’t acknowledge vibes. I passed until I said “bye Barney.” He stopped, stared and gave me a slow grin. Lovely man.
Kelly l m kenzie recently posted…I Thought I Was Going To Die
Ooo, I can’t wait to hear more antique store stories! Barney Miller – I love that you got him with a sly comment. 🙂
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…When I Met Rick Springfield
Great story! So fun that you were able to meet Rick. I haven’t met any celebrities, but I had had my pick I think that I’d like to meet and spend a little time with Jimmy Buffet. I’m a big Parrot-head (I used to nurse my oldest to Cheeseburger in Paradise — he still really likes that song although he doesn’t remember why very well!), and have enjoyed Jimmy’s concerts. Maybe someday I’ll get lucky like you did!
Anna Fitfunner recently posted…Fifteen Fun Healthy Holiday Ideas
That is such a cool memory to have w/ Cheeseburger in Paradise! Fingers crossed that you run into Jimmy one day.
OMG that is so so so awesome!!! Billy Idol wanted to have sex with me (before meeting me long story) but OMG I love that you met Rick!!! Also? I so so miss the 80’s. Thank you huge for linking up with FTSF with this most party-on excellent post (see what I did there)
Kristi Campbell recently posted…The Time I Thought I Would Probably Die When I Heard These Words
I knew you were my 80s girl, too! Can we please bring pack perms now? My hair never looked better or was so easy to do! I may have helped create global warming, tho, with my addiction to Aqua Net…
I loved Rick Springfield back in the day. I would have died too. I was at a concert of his one time in Toronto and all I could do was watch and dream that maybe after the concert was over I’d meet him and maybe go and party with him.
Susan Zutautas recently posted…I Thought I Was Going to Die When – Finish the Sentence Friday
Yay! He’s really good in concert, isn’t he? Very entertaining. Love Rick!
Love!!
Must have been very exciting! Made me remember the first concert I went to, I was in love with a local boy band when I was in high-school and was elated when my mom allowed me to watch the concert. I couldn’t sleep for days after!
Jhanis recently posted…I thought I was going to die but I just needed to pee
Funny how exciting concerts were when we were teens, right? I guess it’s good to remember that, since my kids will be that old before I know it. Thanks for sharing your fondness for the local boy band. 🙂
That sounds like an awesome weekend. That’s so cool that you got into his party and took a photo with him. Some friends and I ran into Alan Alda on a sidewalk in New York. He wouldn’t let us take a picture and he even refused to give us an autograph.
Colleen @MommieDaze recently posted…That Time I Wanted to be Laura Ingalls When I Grew Up
Boo Alan Alda. I asked Chloris Leachman for an autograph after a play once and she said it wasn’t her. I’m 99% sure it was her and she was just blowing me off!
I don’ think I’ve ever met a celebrity. My husband has sold electronics to Sissy Spacek and Dave Matthews, though!
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…Saving Money with Food Lion and the MVP Coupon Hub {Giveaway}
Sissy and Dave? Random but cool! My husband travels for business a lot and sees the most random B-list celebrities at the airport. Like people from Real World on MTV or Hallmark Channel movies!
OMG Katy! I LOVE Dr. Noah Drake! Love him. And Rich Springfield was my first concert too – Sunrise Musical Theater – Fort Lauderdale, July 1982:)! He wrote a song called “Allison” and I used to dream that he wrote it for me.
Allie recently posted…Nuggets of Wisdom from an Unconventional Dad
Oooo, I remember that song! I would have done the same thing. Yup, Rick was my first concert in October 1984. I think it was the tour for his Tao album – State of the Heart. LOVE!
you know…I have never met celebrities in my life, but I am pretty sure my reaction would be the same as yours 🙂
Enjoy and keep those memories treasured
xoxo
ruchira recently posted…An impact with nature
I never meet any famous people! We lived in Nashville for a year and the whole time I was sure I would meet someone famous. I saw LeeAnn Rimes across the mall once and my daughter went to preschool with Trace Adkins’ daughter. He actually came to their Christmas musical, but again, I saw him from across the room and didn’t actually meet him.
Lisa @ The Golden Spoons recently posted…The Pros and Cons of Life with a Traveling Spouse
I miss the 80s so!! What a lucky girl you are and wouldnt it have been even awesomer if you could’ve tweeted that and instagrammed it. 😉
Allison Carter recently posted…I thought I might die….
I miss the 80s, too. Imagine if Twitter and Instagram had been around This makes me wonder what exciting things might happen to my kids–who’ll get to share it with the world immediately!
I am SOOOOO JEALOUS!!!!!!! I AM IN LOVE WITH RICK!!!!! Yeah- I call him Rick in my dreams, so ya know…
I didn’t know he was a sex addict …. really? Why do I feel both sickness and excitement at the same time?
Shame on me. Seriously. Shame on ME!!!
Chris Carter recently posted…Heaven Can Wait…
CHRIS! {giggle!!!}
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…When I Met Rick Springfield
So totally awesome! That must’ve been awesome for you!
April recently posted…#ChainLinkyCLIMB to the Top with Your Blog!
It was very cool! Exciting even!
That is all kinds of wonderful. I will now have “I’ve Done Everything For You” in my head. But it’s a good song, so that is okay. I met Wayne Brady in a mall in Las Vegas in 2000, and he was sweet and also very cute.
Lynne Streeter Childress recently posted…Thanksgiving Plus
Now I’m singing “I’ve done everything for you” too! 🙂
How cool that you not only got to meet him you got to go get your camera and then take a picture with him. I always say I wouldn’t be star struck by anyone. I haven’t actually ever met anyone. But once in the Charlotte NC airport Maya Angelou (my author idol) was driven right by me in one of those beep beep airport cars. I was suddenly glued to the floor and I waved slowly with my mouth open. Pretty cool.
That IS cool. I saw her speak once at college and it was a neat experience.
I am so jealous of anyone who gets to meet someone famous! I never have. #sadface
Jennifer Hall recently posted…I Don’t Need to Pledge Not to Shop on Thanksgiving
I think it’s only a matter of time before you do! Fingers crossed for ya.