Star-struck.

I could be sitting next to Harry Connick Jr. and not notice—and I really like Harry Connick Jr.  (There’s something about the way he dances with Sandra Bullock in Hope Floats that kind of melts my heart.)  I’m sure that I have had many famous people on my flights without having any idea.  Oh, the missed autograph opportunities!

I’ve had only a handful of celebrities on my flights in the last 3 years.

Today I had Brad Pitt!

Just kidding.  I didn’t.  Or maybe I did and I didn’t notice.

Actually, today I had a C-list actor—Kim Coates.  Had the other flight attendant not identified him, I would never had known.  But, now I’ve googled him—and he’s for real.  I guess he was in The Client and Pearl Harbor and a lot of TV shows.  I think he really loved that someone finally knew who he was because he really tried to work it with me and wondered what hotel I was staying at.  Actually, he was quite charming. 

Last year I had Michael Keeton.  He was sitting in the first row, and I sat facing him much of the flight and had no idea I was amidst such fame.  I did notice his shoes, nice fitting jeans, and cashmere sweater though!  It wasn’t until the end of the flight that I finally looked at his face and thought, “I think he might be famous.”  And then it wasn’t until after he left, and the pilots told me, that I was able to put a name to his face.  (For those who care, his real name is Michael Douglas.  It was his name on my flight manifest.  Interesting) 

I had Wayne Newton once.  His hair is super black and shiny.   I had no idea he was famous.  I had to google him too.

The first famous person I noticed on a flight was my most interesting one.  Kim Peek.  He’s the man that inspired the movie, Rain Man.  He’s played by Dustin Hoffman (who costars with Tom Cruise).  He is a savant and has a photographic memory.  He was traveling with his father who asked me questions  that Kim Peek could provide very interesting information about.  He knew my zip code and area code when I told him which city I was from.  He knew what day of the week I was born on just by knowing the date.  He knew what day my birthday would be next year and the next.  It was pretty fascinating.