Funny stuff. I have a similar story. My sister in law, back in college in the mid '80s, was a food service major and had a job at a local eatery near the college. One day a group of young gents with an odd look...not the norm in that area...came in to get some lunch. As they strolled up to the head of the line, my sister in law stood in front of them and said, "I'm sorry gents but you'll have to move to the back of the line and wait to be seated."
The 'leader' of the group spoke up and said..."Don't you know who we are?"
She replied, "No".
He retorted, Why...we're the Kinks!"
Her reply was classic.
"Oh. Ok. What's a Kink?"
Apparently they were doing a show at the college and their popularity had faded a bit by the mid '80s.
Hahahahahahahahaha! I can only imagine the crestfallen looks on their faces to realize their shield of celebrity was a bit fallen...
I saw Steven Tyler in person (and every-day life context) one time, and did not know it was him (I saw him from behind) but he was with some people I knew.
The long gray hair, very tiny and frail looking frame wearing a jogging suit of some such thing that had kind of flood-water pants that exposed his bare ankles and casual shoes.
The funny thing was-from behind, he appeared to me as my frail, 73 year old mother had before she passed from cancer. That was my first thought.
I couldn’t believe how small and frail he had physically appeared. Now, for all I know, he might still be able to perform fine on the stage, but initially, not knowing who he was, that was my first impression.
Then someone whispered to me “Do you know who that is?”
I am personally NOT a celebrity fan, though if I had ever met Admiral Stockdale, or seen Thomas Sowell in person, I would undoubtedly have approached them and asked to shake their hand. More often, when I see famous people, I am inclined to withdraw so as not to impinge on their personal life.
I sat next to the peerless Ray Bourque in a airline terminal one time (in Miami, I think, as he was there with his family going to/from the Carribean) and while I very much admired him as a player, I wouldn’t even deign to speak with him. I do remember looking down at his thighs in amazement. He and I were just about the same height, but wearing shorts as he was, his thighs looked at least twice the size of mine, and I was pretty happy with the fitness of my own legs! He looked like he had tree trunks there.