Yeah, I've had 2 of those moments that stand out as significant. Early 2000, I get a from my sister. She is at Newark catching a flight to Tampa and there is a rain delay. Turns out the guy next to her is Joe Torre. She says, Tommy I want you to say hi to Joe.... It was 5am and I wasn't amused by the prank. We had had fix to Game 5 of the 1999 series and she was pissed at me, like it was my fault. Anyway this guy says hi this is Joe Torre, and I said I'm happy to come to ST but Jorge isn't gonna like competing for the starting catcher job. He laughed handed the phone to my sis and she was drop dead serious, handed the phone back I apologized and we chatted for 10 minutes about the upcoming season.
2nd moment was last year when I met one of the survivors of the USS Indianapolis. Once people around me realized who this guy was, he had a line of active duty military lined up to pay their respects. I was the coolest thing ever, he and his wife were returning home on an honor flight.
To put that in context, I've met and hung out with a dozen noble laureates. I've schmoozed with billionaires, and had dinner the Hulk Hogan, Randy Macho Man Savage and Andre the Giant. I've served food to Heart, Rick James, The English Beat and other bands I can't remember.
But a random phone chat with Joe Torre and a chance meeting of an honorable old veteran really made an impression on me.
