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Star Struck in Squish (12.19.03)
“It’s Christmas, If you can’t say anything nice don’t mention politics at all” – Mom
Once again we enter the throws of the festive season. Things are tough all over this year so I’ve become a big fan of presents without a price tag. It could be anything from fresh oven baked bread to a surprise visit from an old friend. This year I actually got my Christmas present early when I had the dumb luck to run into one of my childhood hero’s.
When I stumbled into the pub it wasn’t to meet any hero. In fact I was mostly trying to lift the fog that inevitably fills ones head after several days of festive recreating. I was going to try the hair of the dog but it turns out all I needed was a good friend to say...
“Hey Bryan, Dave Thomas is over by the fire.” What?
“Yeah he’s over there with Jennifer Tilly.” WHAT!? Over Load!! Danger Danger. The fog suddenly clears as I look over and holly crap, there was Doug McKenzie and the Bride of Chucky! Well I certainly wasn’t prepared for that. There was the man responsible for countless SCTV characters, and the best ever rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. Then there’s Jennifer Tilley, not an actress I would base seeing a movie on, but I’m always happy when she’s on screen.
To put my amazement in perspective you must understand that my Bob and Doug McKenzie ‘action figures’ had arrived in the mail less than a week ago. I like the fact they’re called action figures yet all they do is sit in office chairs. But they do come with stubby beer bottles, a cooler and Coleman with back bacon, a half eaten cruller and some bottle caps.
In true Canadian fashion I was too embarrassed to approach
the table but later in the evening I turn around and boom, there he was.
“Dave Thomas?”
“Yes.”
“I’m,… I… fan…”
Suddenly the fog came crashing back and before I new it I was star struck. Through the babble he graciously shook my hand with a pleasantly firm grip. The pause seemed endless, not wanting to sound like a jerk I froze and said nothing.
He was a class act though and offered to give an autograph.
While standing there I’m thinking of a million things to say to him. I mean it’s Doug McKenzie for Pete’s sake. I didn’t even get to tell him about our new bridge. You know the Big Orange Bridge just north of Squamish, that’s affectionately called Bob? Well now Bob has a brother bridge, and since construction began I figured it only makes sense to name it Doug. The only way it could be better is if it was over the McKenzie River. But do I tell him any of this? No, I remain star struck and only manage a stutter.
In the end I did get his autograph signed, “To Brian, Take off eh’ Dave Thomas”
Not a shabby present at all.
Here’s hoping your holidays are filled with pleasant surprises as well eh’
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