21:20
Faizan
In the mid 1960's, my sister and her husband were part of a citizen's band radio club. One of their regular activities was to provide communications at fairs, festivals and parades. Most towns have annual summer festivals, and I would often get to tag along with the club. The city of Monterey Park, California had both a parade and festival, and the Grand Marshall of the festivities was Kurt Russell. This was when Mr. Russell was appearing in a series of Disney films. "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes" was one of my favorite movies at the time, and when I learned that Kurt Russell was announced as Grand Marshall, I was elated.
As we watched the parade go by, I asked my sister if I could meet Kurt, and she said that Jim, her husband, could probably arrange something. After the parade ended, everybody followed to the city park, where the festival was happening. A short time after our arrival, Jim said "come with me". We walk to a tent and inside, seated at a table, was Kurt Russell! We waited in line for a few minutes while other fans and autograph seekers took their turns. Finally, after what seemed like hours, I got my chance.
As I shook his hand, we chatted about his films and baseball (I was wearing my little league hat) and I told him I wanted to be a pitcher. Kurt said he was going to the "dunk tank". He said if I could drop him in the tank within the first three throws, he would buy me lunch. As we walked over to the tank, I could feel the "butterflies" in my stomach getting stronger and stronger. Kurt climbed into the tank seat as the operator handed me three baseballs. My palms were beginning to sweat, and I noticed that as he got situated, a crowd was gathering.
Clearing my mind and trying to focus on the small "bullseye" on the arm attached to the tank, I slowly rolled the ball in my hand. "Remember what the coach told you" I reminded myself. I relaxed my shoulders and squinted my eyes. After a small wind-up, I let that ball fly like a rocket. CLANG! SPLASH! The crowd cheered wildly. I had dropped Kurt Russell! It took a moment before reality set in. As I walked over to the tank, Kurt was climbing out, dripping wet.
He was laughing as he shook the water off his head and said "nice shot! I guess I owe you lunch". We went over to a snack stand and he ordered us both hotdogs, fries, and pop. As we ate, we chatted some more about movies, and he told me that Walt Disney was like a father to him. As he was leaving, I wrote down my address and handed it to him and said "if you ever get bored, write me a letter". He told me he would try, and said "see you later". I never received any letters, but twenty-three years later, I would get a chance to meet with Mr. Russell again.
As I shook his hand, we chatted about his films and baseball (I was wearing my little league hat) and I told him I wanted to be a pitcher. Kurt said he was going to the "dunk tank". He said if I could drop him in the tank within the first three throws, he would buy me lunch. As we walked over to the tank, I could feel the "butterflies" in my stomach getting stronger and stronger. Kurt climbed into the tank seat as the operator handed me three baseballs. My palms were beginning to sweat, and I noticed that as he got situated, a crowd was gathering.
Clearing my mind and trying to focus on the small "bullseye" on the arm attached to the tank, I slowly rolled the ball in my hand. "Remember what the coach told you" I reminded myself. I relaxed my shoulders and squinted my eyes. After a small wind-up, I let that ball fly like a rocket. CLANG! SPLASH! The crowd cheered wildly. I had dropped Kurt Russell! It took a moment before reality set in. As I walked over to the tank, Kurt was climbing out, dripping wet.
He was laughing as he shook the water off his head and said "nice shot! I guess I owe you lunch". We went over to a snack stand and he ordered us both hotdogs, fries, and pop. As we ate, we chatted some more about movies, and he told me that Walt Disney was like a father to him. As he was leaving, I wrote down my address and handed it to him and said "if you ever get bored, write me a letter". He told me he would try, and said "see you later". I never received any letters, but twenty-three years later, I would get a chance to meet with Mr. Russell again.
Posted in: arts
