The Day My Husband Met a Rock Star

 

My husband Randy believes in the possible, he always has. He’s not afraid to go up to anyone. He’s not afraid to ask for anything. He’s not afraid, period. So when he recently spied a rock legend in the Atlanta airport, of course, he had to approach and posed a great question to the man. But first, let me back up…

The idea of flying from New York to Atlanta that day wasn’t a happy one. Randy had a bad cold and not in the mood to sit in a pressurized cabin. He had hauled himself through security, the gate, and was seated on the plane when something interesting caught his eye.

A casually dressed man in first class had an instrument case. What musician flies first class unless they’re really, really big?

The answer became clear. This was the Allman Brothers band. Randy heard they’d just played their final gig at the Beacon Theater in New York City and were now winging their way home.

And then, to Randy’s excitement, was the man himself.

Who knew? You can perform in front of thousands one minute and schlepping on a commercial plane the next.

By the way, to anyone who doesn’t know, the Allman Brothers band was huge in the seventies with hits like “Rambling Man” and “Midnight Rider.” I always thought they were cool southern boys with hair down to their waists and great guitar chops.

Gregg Allman also has the extra panache of being married to Cher for five minutes in 1975. These guys have been around a long, long time.

The plane landed in Atlanta and by now Randy had told half the internet. Facebook was lighting up. Passengers de-planed and in the terminal Randy “happened” to find himself next to Gregg at the luggage rack. Of course, my husband couldn’t resist.

“Can I take a picture with you?” he asked.

Gregg gave him a smile. “Sure, that’d be fine,” he said in a soft, southern drawl.

Randy snapped the photo and then asked that great question, “So how does it feel after all these years to play your last gig? You feeling proud? Relieved? Scared?”

Gregg thought about this and laughed. “That’s pretty good.  I’d say a little of all that.”

Randy and Gregg shook hands and Gregg walked away, blending into the crowd.

No one seemed to notice him, but Randy will never forget the day he met this rock legend. One of many reasons I’m proud of my husband.

He is unafraid. And Gregg Allman’s pretty cool too.

Have any celebrity sightings of your own? Decades ago, I saw Greta Garbo walking toward me on the streets of New York. I almost tripped over myself. That’s my all time favorite.

 

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