Impressed

Back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s my sister Joyce and I used to go out to the airport to watch the airplanes take off and land. We also went inside the terminal just to walk around sometimes. I was in my early teens and this was before the days of increased airport security, back when we day-dreamed of flying somewhere, back when life was simpler, and back when the main airport in Indianapolis was simply known as Weir Cook.

So, one day while we were walking around Weir Cook, my sister recognized Bobby Gentry of “Ode to Billie Joe” 🎶 fame. She was standing near one of the counters and was obviously upset. The airline had lost her guitar and my sister talked with her for a few minutes about it. I didn’t recognized her at first, even with her signature poofy hair-do, but I could tell she was somebody famous by the way she looked. I just didn’t know who she was initially.

So as we walked away, Joyce explained to me who she was and I was both shocked and impressed! I remember thinking how cool it was to see someone famous. It was 1967 or 1968 and I was a young teenager, around 13 or 14 years old. Her song, “Ode to Billie Joe,” was a very popular song on the radio at this time. The song was basically a story put to music, about a boy who died jumping off a Mississippi bridge. The story included a girl who secretly loved him, some mysterious circumstances, and her family who spoke of his death with casual indifference while eating dinner.

So Bobby Gentry was my first encounter with someone famous. I have to admit I thought it was pretty exciting, but I was pretty young then too. I was easily impressed.

Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of meeting or talking with a variety of famous people. I think most everyone has as well.

Here’s some of mine:

• Actors Jerry Mathers and Tony Dowell of Leave it to Beaver fame at a dinner theater (Beef and Boards) meet-and-greet and photo op in Indianapolis.

• Singer Mel Torme (“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”🎶) when he stood behind me at the America The Beautiful Circle-Vision 360° Movie at Walt Disney World in Florida.

• Actor Robert Ulrich (Dan Tanna in the crime drama series Vega$, and Spenser in Spenser for Hire) on a telephone call one day when I booked several flights for him and his family to/from Florida, while working for Delta Air Lines in Tampa.

• TV Show Host Gary Collins on a telephone call discussing his wife’s (Mary Ann Mobley) reservation, while I worked at Delta Air Lines in Los Angeles.

• Actor Ed Begley Jr. (Ghostbuster’s, St. Elsewhere) in a little store onboard a tour of The RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.

• Actor Henry Winkler (The Fonz) photo op with my daughter Megan at a Dallas children’s hospital.

• Comedian Yakov Smirnoff (Soviet-Born comedian famous for the phrase “America: What a country!”) photo op with my daughter Mackenzie and me in Branson, Missouri.

• Artist Thomas Kincaid, “Painter of Light” photo op with Harold and me after we purchased a Hometown Morning Limited Edition Canvas in Longview, Texas at a Thomas Kincaid Gallery Event.

• TV Game Show Host Bob Barker when I was a contestant on The Price is Right TV show in Los Angeles in 2005.

• Comedian Jay Leno photo op at a Tonight Show taping in Burbank where my daughter Megan and I talked with him before the taping. He called us “The Dove girls.” 🕊

• Actor Ben Affleck at a Tonight Show taping with my daughters Michelle and Megan, where he came over to say, “Hello,” and to shake our hands.

• Singer Robin Thicke photo op at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, when he came over to speak with me and my daughter Megan after a show taping.

• Morning TV Show Host Robin Roberts photo op at NYC Times Square at a Good Morning America TV show taping.

• Singer Jason Mraz photo op in Los Angeles at an American Idol Finale with my daughter, Mackenzie.

• NASCAR drivers, Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt Jr (with my grandson Landon), Danica Patrick, etc. photo ops at TMS (Texas Motor Speedway)

• Reality TV Personality Willie Robertson (Duck Dynasty) photo op at TMS.

• TV Spokesperson Marie Osmond when she and I spoke on the telephone on two scheduled QVC/Nutrisystem TV show call-in’s. She called me “girlfriend” and a “silver fox.” 😂

• Singer Meghan Linsey (from The Voice) at a Nutrisystem photo shoot at a Tampa advertising studio.

• And honorable mention to Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s travel agent. Ha! I talked with her one day back in 1990 about some problem’s with their booking while working in the Los Angeles Customer Service Department for Delta Air Lines.

So, out of the list above, how many of these people have you heard of or remember?!

If you’re around my age, maybe most of them, but if you’re young, there’s a good chance you haven’t heard of any of them.

Actually, I think it’s fairly likely that after a generation or two, most so called “famous” people eventually sink into obscurity along with everyone else.

In reality, we are all just people.

While being famous might make a person more recognizable than others, it doesn’t make a person any more special than anyone else.

While a famous person may be a great actor, artist, musician, or athlete, etc., in the eyes of God they are equal to people who cannot act, paint, sing, play an instrument, or play sports, etc.

Eventually no matter how famous a person may be during their lifetime, “this too will pass.”

And, the best of people are just people at best.

The Bible tells us that,

“God created man in his own image,”(Genesis 1:27) and “there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:11)

And,

Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands. Job 34:19

Most importantly, the Bible warns us about holding idols (people, places, or things) in higher esteem than God. God is to be honored above all things and to be worshiped in “spirit and truth.” (John 4.23)

Those who regard worthless idols
Forsake their own mercy. Jonah 2:8

Specifically,

“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

So while it may be a pleasure to meet interesting and famous people along life’s highway, the Bible reminds us that we’re to keep it all in proper perspective.

We should look at everyone equally as individuals created in the image of God.

And we shouldn’t be overly impressed with anyone.

Except,

God.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Psalm 115:1

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11

Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,and he is to be feared above all gods. 1 Chronicles 16:23-25