So here I go, mentioning a celebrity sighting in my neighborhood, just minutes after finishing a post on the idiocy of celebrity worship. Celebrity sightings are nothing new in the West Village. It seems that half of Hollywood has decided to move to the neighborhood. Why? Probably because they realize that they're less likely to be bothered by photographers and star-struck tourists in the maze-like streets of townhouses. Matthew Broderick or Julianne Moore, frequent visitors to the playground, can enjoy themselves with minimal interference. Tying this to my previous post . . . shouldn't they be able to enjoy some family time at the park without celebrity-crazed people invading their privacy? Thankfully, those who frequent the playground are gracious enough to preserve that privacy and treat them like ordinary people - which they are.But I digress . . . This morning, while walking the kids to school, we encountered Billy Joel walking his fat little pug on Perry Street (where he and his much younger wife have redone a nice townhouse). I titled this "unfortunate celebrity sighting" because Billy just didn't look good. Sure, how many of us look great at 7:45 a.m. while taking the dog out for his morning pee? Nevertheless, I've always been a fan of Billy Joel, so it was a little sad to see him looking hung over and paunchy. Actually, he and his pug were vividly embodying that joke about how people and their pets start looking like each other after a few years together. (The same thing is said about spouses, I believe.) So Billy, next time you're walking in the 'hood, at least put on some sunglasses so we don't have to see your swollen, bloodshot eyes.
5 comments:
I agree with anonymous 1. And maybe you ought to drop a few dozen pounds yourself before you call somebody else paunchy.
It's obvious to me that you're not a star-struck fan who would ever impose on a "celebrity's" privacy. And you were kind enough to recognize that none of us look particularly attractive walking our animals at that time of the morning. Unless that is Mr. Joel himself posing anonymously up there (and his pug) I think the someone's being a little harsh...
You could have just said "good morning" like any good neighbor . I would have been happy to chat with you.
i met (or rather, stumbled upon) Mr Joel near an Egyptian tomb at the Met in NYC, back in 87 or so. it was a weekday morning so the place was pretty much empty, and he was pushing a baby carriage. he had a bodyguard (?) with him, and i was with my father. we all said Hi. i wanted to ask for an autograph but none of us had a pen, so he told me i had a nice hat. he seemed like a nice guy.
that's my celebrity story. yay.
Ah, obviously the first anonymous didn't read my post very carefully. I admitted up front the obvious contradiction between the two posts. Obviously this commentor has his/her own issues vis-a-vis the "slavish worship of celebrity."
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