Barack Obama

George A. Romero, direcor

All Time Low

Travis from Gym Class Heroes

Rapper P.O.S.

In a previous post, I discussed the many deceased celebrities I have "met," but tonight I would like to focus on the living. I have been lucky enough throughout my life, to come into contact with many "famous people." I can attribute some of it to luck, some to begging, and most to determination. I am naturally on the quiet side, not opening up to people until I know them well, but there is something that comes over me when I am in a situation that I am in the vicinity of a celebrity. I am drawn to their star power like a moth to a flame. The bottom line is that I need a photo with that celebrity, and I will stop at nothing to get it. I recently wrote a paper about how I was "forced" to lie now President Barack Obama a few years ago at a political event. I had volunteered for his campaign with the hopes of gaining a photo with the then-presidential hopeful by the end of the event. The picture came, but it was a group shot which included all of the volunteers. I was not satisfied. After we were escorted out of the area, I ventured back and approached Mr. Obama with the intentions of gaining a personal photo, just me and him.

"Can I get a picture with you?" I asked Barack in a sweet, syrupy tone.
"Weren't you already in a picture?" He bellowed back, in a rally-like serve.
I simply replied, "no," waiting for the lie to work to my advantage.
"I think you did," he replied.

Needless to say, I walked out that night disappointed. While the disappointment stemmed from the absence of my coveted personal photo, Obama's personality and reaction truly hurt me the most. I struggle with the thought of being famous. I think, "If I were ever extremely famous, I would be the nicest celebrity out there. I would sign autographs and take pictures with everyone. I will be known for my kindness to fans." I know that this thought would never change regardless of how famous I ever became. I think this mostly has to do with the way I was raised as well as my personality. While I struggle with the question about celebrities and their lack of privacy, I find it so hard to think about their bitterness when they are loved by so many. For many, the status seeps into their heads and constantly swells as their fan base does the same. This is not to say that I have not met countless people in the public eye who have been extremely friendly. It is these people, their graciousness that makes up for all others in their league. It is these people who make me want to continue to seek out my passion of getting to know them on a personal level, out of the spotlight.

Hillary Clinton

Meeting Famous Friends. Volume I: The Dead

Oscar Wilde

Fredric Chopin

Jim Morrison

Meeting people who are living and "meeting" those who are dead are both suprisingly intriguing, for different reasons of course. I will focus on the living later, but the deceased are their own focus. There is something about visiting the gravesite of someone who was on top of the world and worshiped by so many at one time when I wasn't even alive. To think that someone who had acquired such greatness and achievement is now incapacitated, unable to show their greatness is quite a startling realization. At that point in my life when the photo was taken, when standing over Chopin's grave, I realize that I could accomplish more than he could. What does this mean for the rest of us? Although these specific men are now in the ground, what significant accomplishments can any of us say we have done? Not all of us will be world-renowned. No matter how good we are, not all of us will be publically recognized. What is important is that one day, someone will stand in front of us and look down, thanking us for all we did to make their world a little happier.

All photos taken by me at Pere Lachaise Cemmetary. Paris, France