The Dude

One of the perks of my job is sometimes, in the strangest of places, you see famous people. My experience with famous faces is that they seldom look like you think they will. For instance, Steven Tyler is not as hot in person... he's much thinner than I expected, and older (but ridiculously nice!). Tom Cruise is SHORT.

This morning, I was working at the Peabody in Memphis and one of the VPs from my client company had just left the area where we were working. I realized I had neglected to ask him an important question, ran to the elevator he had just gotten on and stuck my arm in the door to stop it from closing. There were 4-5 other people, and while I'm never one to be willing to inconvenience others, it would only take a second. When I looked at my client, he was giving me a look of incredulousness - "what are you thinking???" he seemed to be trying to say.

He quickly answered my question, giving me the eye to look to his right which i did... into the very handsome face of Jeff Bridges. Startled, the only thing that popped into my head (and straight out of my mouth) was "heh heh heh Dooooode".

Fortunately, Mr. Bridges appreciated my recollection of his character in one of my favorite all time comedies, The Big Lebowski and flashed his famous grin. Everyone in the elevator began laughing and door slowly closed, mercifully separating me from my embarrassment.