Ever been totally “starstruck” when meeting a celebrity? It’s happened to me a couple of times in my life. Once was about eight years ago when I met Rockstar Bret Michaels back stage at one of his concerts during the “Rock of Love” reality TV show phase….being in Radio can have it’s advantages at time…just sayin. And let’s be real, I’m a sucker for 80’s hair bands and he is a gorgeous man! And believe it or not, he was one of the nicest guys. He listened attentively when I talked to him and was completely charming, not at all the rock star ego I was expecting. I used to think that was one of the best days of my life….that is until last Friday afternoon at the Rangers game when I was really “starstruck”!
Opening Day in Baseball is just a great atmosphere, hope for the new season, usually it’s beautiful weather and the hot dogs always taste better. So, I was absolutely thrilled last Friday when I got the opportunity to sit in the Press Box for Ranger’s Opening Day at Globe Life Park…and that’s when I became totally “starstruck” again. Now you might be thinking it was a ball player, after all I was standing just feet away from Ranger’s great Rafael Palmeiro ( also a very good looking man I must say) but it wasn’t an athlete, it was in fact a former President of the United States….who also just happened to be my neighbor when I was growing up in Midland.
Yep, if you follow me on Twitter you might have seen the picture I posted with former President George W. Bush and the ear to ear grin on my face. 
Mr. Bush was part of a press conference shortly after the start of the game I ran down to the room where the presser was going on, on the homes that I might get a glimpse of the President. At the end of the question and answer session, President Bush was milling around talking with a few people and something possessed me to reach out to the man. Although I was a little terrified that the Secret Service would scoop me up as I tried to approach the former leader of the free world, the timing was just perfect. I walked up and said “Mr. Bush I was your neighbor in Midland” he immediately smiled, took my hand and pulled me over for a picture. We chatted a little bit about our time in Midland…and then he was gone, but the smile on my face stayed there for days! I was awestruck, and just like Bret, this was a truly nice and genuine guy. (It’s funny growing up on Golf Course Rd in Midland, I would have never thought George Bush would be President and I would be a radio personality. I would have bet anything that we would both still be in the oil business. But, everything happens for a reason.)
So, I’ve met a Rockstar, a President and was ignored by a movie star (Bradley Cooper…who breezed by me so fast at the American Sniper premiere that I got whiplash!). The only other person I can think of that would leave me “star struck”, unfortunately I’ll never get to meet…the great Coach Tom Landry. But, I’m not dead yet and I am easily impressed.
Marlee McCormick
