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CARY'S AIRPORT ENCOUNTER - December 1996
I actually met him in an airport in
Ohio. It was amazing because I was having a terrible
day - my flight had been delayed forever, then I ended
up having to take a different plane that went through
Ohio instead of Atlanta- I was on my way to Lexington,
Kentucky from California, where I went to school, to visit
family for Christmas. Johnny was actually on his way
from Lexington (where his mom lives also)to
California. I was walking through the airport to catch
another flight when I spotted him out of the corner of
my eye! I just happened to turn my head and look into
a bar and there he was sitting behind a post at a
table with several other men. I nearly died, as I am a
HUGE fan. Before that I always wondered if I would
actually recognize him if I ever saw him in person,
but at that moment I had no doubts. He looked exactly
like he did in the movies, but as I've told people
after, who never believe me, I think he's actually
more gorgeous in person- which is very intimidating! I
was freaking out and started pacing up and down in
front of the bar trying to decide what to do. I saw a
woman in the bar go up and shake his hand and decided
I would do that (even though at the time I wasn't even
old enough to legally enter)! After briefly looking
for a pen (which I couldn't find) I marched up to him
and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around kind
of surprised and I immediately started gushing like an
idiot. I'm not sure what I actually said to him but he
was very gracious and humble. He asked me about myself
and where I was going and was surprised when I said
Lexington. I told him I was a film major at school and
how much I admired the quirky parts he played in his
film, how talented he was, blah, blah, blah. He said
he had been extremely lucky and couldn't believe he
kept getting offered such good roles. He then shook my
hand!! It was really great for me, I remember seeing
that he wore lots of rings and had a tatoo on one of
his fingers. He was smoking a cigarette and was
dressed very nicely, with his hair about ear length
and falling in his face just like it always does in
pictures. He had a really heavy beautiful coat on,
that was black - so did all the men at the table who
were staring at me like I was a nuisance. Johnny
didn't treat me that way though, he was really very
sweet and understanding for someone who has to deal
with this sort of thing all the time. I started
feeling very silly, so I said I had to go catch my
plane (plus I was carrying a big bag full of Christmas
presents). I didn't really want to leave because when
would I get a chance to ever be about 6 inches from
his face again (he was sitting on a bar stool and was
exactly eye level to me standing)! I left though and
when I was a little bit away and just about to turn
the corner I decided to look back one more time and
was so surprised to see him still watching me - and
then he waved! I smile and waved back and then left.
Hmmm. I wish I could do it all over again - it was such
a lucky chance and I was so silly and flustered. Oh
well, it was still an amazing experience, but next
time I think I would have gone for a hug (as one of
your other writers got) and not just a hand shake!
Sorry this came out kind of long, and unfortunately I
have no pictures to go along with it but I thought I
would share my experience with you. Most people are
only mildly amused when I tell them (including the
forty people near the pay phone in the airport who
laughed when I called my mom screaming to tell her who
I met:), but I still get giddy when I think about it!
Cary
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