We encounter the stars

. . . and I haven't washed my hand since!

We had a wonderful visit from our friends Kevin, Peggy, and Taylor Ladd and Peggy's mom Suzy for several warm days in June, taking in the sights and sounds and smells of Berlin. (Kevin, when I investigated my camera I found no photos to confirm your visit. I know you have some--can you share?)

As we were exploring the Sony Center at Potsdamer Platz, we noticed a long red carpet snaking into a temporary pavilion advertising the film "Kung Fu Panda," along with television moderators announcing to passersby that Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman would be appearing that evening for the German premier. Jack Black? Dustin Hoffman? The kids' blood pressure went through the roof! Did she really say they'd be here? In two hours?

We went on to visit the Brandenburg Gate, but, well, yes, the kids were a wee bit preoccupied. Jack Black--pant--pant. Dustin Hoffman--pant--pant. Must return to red carpet--pant--pant.


We were back in position at 7:00, the four kids with our camera in front of the microphones and we adults indulgently and modestly back at the railing where the cars would be pulling up. We watched as the black chauffeured cars pulled in and the German celebrities piled out. They posed as the photographers descended, and we looked at each other shrugging, mouthing, Who's that?


Finally the car with Dustin Hoffman drove in and stopped, and dear little Dustin stepped out, put on his suit jacket, and strolled right over to where Peggy and I were standing to shake our hands. What a coupla middle-aged groupies! he was thinking. And, yes, we were thinking, Dustin Hoffman just shook my hand! Dustin Hoffman just shook my hand! Two grown women! How embarrassing!


Meanwhile Jack Black had already popped out of another car with gyrations and contortions and panda roars and was working the crowd on the other side. Together they must have spent a full hour patiently signing autographs and taking pictures with kids leaning out over the railings.

Near the end, Anna managed to lean far enough out on Jost's shoulders to get an autograph from Jack, Hannes shamelessly flattered him into signing a "Kung Fu Panda" fan, and Anna wriggled through to reach Dustin for a signature.


But Taylor scored the highest coup with the photo on Suzy's camera that Jack Black took of Taylor and himself, a photo that I would love to post here when those world travelers get through unpacking!

And what are we left with? A fan and some scraps of paper with illegible scrawls, some cockeyed crowd photos, one precious photo of Taylor with a movie star--and some humility, hopefully, that we too succumbed, for a few moments, to the fleeting pull of the celebrity.