Monday, October 5, 2009

about the day I met John Turturro

Today I had this vivid memory of an odd experience from a few years back.

version 1:
Yes, John Turturro the award winning actor wanted to meet this Uptown Girl. He asked his people to contact my people because he had heard so much about me and wanted to set up a meeting. I agreed to coffee, but only coffee. Mr. Turturro then asked if we could take a photo together. I regretfully declined.


I have another version of this same story to share with you. This is an exercise for your benefit, so that you can use those critical thinking and problem solving skills. Research shows that brain teasers prevent Alzheimer's, so you can thank me with flowers or chocolates.


version 2:
I had just completed a successful second round of interviews and was hired for my (then) new job. As I waited for the bus to come, I started talking to the man next to me. He commented on the desserts I was eating at the bus stop, and the conversation went on from there. I told this gentleman of about 50 years that he looked familiar, that he reminded me of an actor. And he told me in hushed tones that he was in fact an actor, and asked me to guess his name. I guessed Roberto Benigni.

[Roberto Benigni]
But he said he was John Turturro. That sounded very familiar but I couldn't place the name at the time.




[John Turturro]



Mr. Turturro and I rode the long bus ride from the Upper Eastside to Midtown West, where I was to meet my eX. I asked Mr. T a little bit about acting because I have a brother who hopes to become a successful actor one day. I got Mr. T's autograph for said brother. However, Mr. T did not want to talk much about his craft.


Mr. T suggested we have dinner. I reminded him that I was on my way to meet my eX, and then I agreed to coffee at a cafe about a block from where I was headed so that the eX could come meet him, too. We drank our coffee, but as soon as the eX texted that he was rounding the corner, Mr. T had to rush off. They didn't get to meet.


And the eX was angry. Very angry that I would even think to go to coffee with another man. Even John Turturro. Even a man who was over twice my age. Even a man who knew about the eX and was waiting to buy him a cup of coffee.


We made it home (fighting) and I looked up John Turturro in Google Images. Oh, I was so conned. The lovely man who kept me company for the afternoon was not in fact Mr. T at all. He does not ride this bus in order to "be one with the people of NY". The real Mr. Turturro does not have a foreign accent.



Oops.


This is the lesson I learned: men blow everything out of proportion, so it is unwise to let them know when you make a mistake until after you check the facts. And even then, just don't tell them if you don't have to. I should've waited until I verified that coffee was with the real John Turturro before divulging that information (if at all). Now I know how to play my cards right. Also, babs.


I also stopped talking to strangers on public transportation (unless they are in my personal space unnecessarily, but that is a different kind of conversation). And when I see the fake Mr. T sitting at that same bus stop, I look the other way. And when I see confirmed celebs in public, I don't often go to coffee with them.


And there you have it friends, one story, two versions. You decide. Choose your own adventure.

4 comments:

rita said...

Sort of like the time my sisters and I were riding the DC Metro and Greta Van Sustern was sitting across from us. I didn't want to actually ask, but I was sure it was her. Except for that whole not riding the Metro thing. I emailed her and she emailed back that she hadn't been on the Metro that day. I'm guessing that she never rides the damn Metro.

Liza said...

Ouch!!! What a Jerk! BABs is right!

I'm sorry Maria - you can borrow my story about Riding the subway with the REAL Jason Bateman if you want?

I think the best part of the story is that you still SEE this creepy man at the bus stop!!..Awkward Turtle!

june cleaver said...

Did I ever tell you about the day I met George Clooney and posed with him while he held my baby as if we were a couple and the baby was HIS?

Yeah-

It was pretty awes.

Of course, I was at a wax museum-but you can't tell by the pictures!

rita said...

Ooooh, Jason Bateman--love him!