1973

circa 1973.
platform shoes, spandex bell bottoms, tight knit sweaters.
i'm in line to board my flight to L.A. from Monterey, Ca.
i'm about.........28 people from the front.
there's a loud voice coming from the front, a large hardy laugh from the throat.
i pull out of line and look towards the loud laughter.
standing there, 4th from the front of the line, with his head thrown back in an animated laugh, is Clint Eastwood.
in line for the same flight to L.A. as myself.

the door opens, the line moves, the people in front of me have claimed their seats by the time i reach the door to the seats. there in front of me, in isle 3 is clint eastwood, on the isle.

i pass him, smile, continue on to my seat.
i'm in row 11 from clint.
we take off, me watching the back of clint eastwoods head.

45 minutes later, we're landing in L.A. at LAX.
by the time i reach the ladder, at the entrance of the doorway, clint has hopped down the ladder, and into the terminal.
gone.
faster than lightening.

i very carefully step down the ladder, careful not to twist my feet on my platform heels, going down the ladder.
i finally get to the bottom and there is no sign of clint eastwood.
i go into the terminal, looking for my ride.
i'm looking in all directions, oblivious of someone standing right in front of me.

i focus to see clint eastwood, standing before me, waiting for me to look at him.
he smiles when he realizes i've seen him. he asks me where our luggage was to come out.
funny how i remembered that.
i tell him, he says to me thank you... and then i try to have small conversation with him just to stall him long enough for my ride to see him. but no luck. but clint tells me he's going to be at some tennis tournament the following week, to which i said, i would be there as well. he told me to come by and meet him and have a drink if i see him.

he leaves, and my ride arrives. late.
i tell my ride about my conversation with clint eastwood.
i doubt be believed me.
a week later, i'm at the tennis tournament with my same companion, when i spot clint eastwood with his wife in the grandstands.
my friend and i go over and re-introduce myself to him, and he buys my friend and me a drink.
and there we sat, next to clint eastwood, drinking gin and tonic.