There has not been anyone in recent history that I thought I would stand in line to meet. But then I met the 2009 Playboy Playmate of the year in Las Vegas last year...............
What is her name?
I've met several Playmates, and they were interesting. Met two in book stores, and spent a hour or so talking to them. One of those I also met in the grocer. You may recall her: Amanda Hope. She played clarinet in an Army band. Angela Little was the other. She gave me some good tips on writing articles for womens magazines.
Neither was doing an appearance; they were just shopping, and I struck up a conversation. At the time, Angela hadn't yet appeared as the centerfold. That was about three months later. She didn't mention being about to be a Playmate, although the photos had probably already been taken. She did mention having appeared in a movie exhibited at Robert Redford's Sundance film festival. Said she'd played a redhead, although she is really blonde.
My son was talking to another Playmate (Julie McCullough) when he was about 14. I saw her in the bookstore and thought, Dang! That girl looks very familiar! After she left, he said her name was Julie and that she was from Plano, a Dallas suburb. Then it hit me who she was. She was very gracious and didn't talk down to him because he was so young. She seemed friendly, amused, and a little flattered by his attention.
The other girls were also very nice. Amanda was surprised that I recognized her in the grocery store, as she wasn't glammed up and was just shopping. Actually, it didn't quite click who she was until she mentioned playing a clarinet, then I asked if she had been in a band in the Army,and the kitty was out of the bag.
She told me that she had roomed with Tiffany Sloan when they played in Playboy's Girls of Rock n' Roll, and that Tiffany was very sweet. Alas, I read recently on the Net that Tiffany didn't fare well over the long run: she died at about age 35. See her Net data for details. I'd rather not post that here.
I did walk across an aisle at the SHOT show to meet Bill Ruger. He was very cordial, despite having to walk on canes, due to arthritis. He died within a few years. I also met Roy Weatherby, as a kid. My dad took me to an NRA Convention and he was there. I was maybe 12, already well aware of who he was.
There are a very few actresses whom I'd like to meet, but I don't think I'd spend all night out in the cold and wait in a really long line to do it. It speaks well of them that I don't think either would want fans to have to do that. One once took time off from her new TV series and drove over 65 miles to a hospital to comfort an American fan who'd broken his neck in a swimming accident. This was in Queensland, where she had filmed a TV show that the lad liked. She was alerted to his accident by members of a fan board about her former show. She showed him her several books of photos from the older show and spent a couple of hours with the teen and his mom, who had flown out from the states. Then, she kissed him as she left. The boy later posted that this was a major boost to his eventual full recovery. And the actress didn't even alert the media for a photo opportunity! She was just very kind and very generous, and had read that he really wanted to meet her. She felt sorry for him, and reached out to help.
Her name is Rachel Blakely, and this incident and her overall nature is why I'd like to shake her hand and get an autograph. Our Australian members have probably seen her shows there. Those have also appeared in many other nations, especially within the Commonwealth.
The other actress I have in mind is also an Aussie, Lara Cox. Some of you have seen her in,
The Marine 2 or in a TV series that aired here, with Rachel in the cast. Like Rachel, she seems unaffected and nice. She is a superb actress, but hasn't let it go to her head. And Jennifer O'Dell, who co-starred with the other two, also seems nice. She's American, and she answered a question from me on her fan board a couple of years ago. I loved her jungle girl outfit on the show where she starred with the other two.
But it is at least as much because they are nice people that I want to meet them as it is because I like their performances. And Lara, in particular, has a smile that'd light a room, especially if she's amused.
T-Star
