ZonkerHarris
ZonkerHarris's JournalI admire that these kids from Central America still want to come to the USA despite the fact...
that our country seems to be packed with racists.
My Breakfast with James Garner
When I first moved to Los Angeles in January of 2001 my best friend had an office in Malibu on the PCH that I would visit from time to time.
One day, during my very first week here, on the way to his office, I stopped to have breakfast at the restaurant in the Malibu Country Mart.
I bought a newspaper, ordered my food, started to read and waited for my meal.
An older man with big eyeglasses, also sitting alone, at the table right next to me, asked if he could borrow my Sports section.
"Sure thing. Here you go." I said.
As I handed him the LA Times Sports section I realized it was James Garner next to me doing the borrowing.
Now, you have to understand that I love, love, love James Garner and his work. THE ROCKFORD FILES, his SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL... movies, 36 HOURS, MAVERICK and almost everything else he had done were my favorites. I am probably one of the world's biggest Jim Garner fans, period. So I'm kind of proud about how cool I acted when this happened.
He and I shared the paper, chatted about the news and sports, and ate breakfast for almost an hour in a way two local guys would at any diner across the country. The NFL payoffs were going on at the time and we talked about my NY Giants chances to go all the way. He didn't think they would do it, but they did later that month. I did not "go fanboy" on him.
About 20 minutes in, while talking sports, I called him "Mr. Garner", acknowledging that I knew who he was, he told me to call him Jim. So I did, and he called me Kevin when I introduced myself and we shook hands. We never discussed his work as an actor or how much I loved it, and him over the years. We simply had a nice conversation over breakfast.
James Garner is the first famous person/superstar that I met when I moved to Los Angeles and was the nicest, most pleasant, funny and charming guy during the encounter.
It is rare to meet a personal hero that lives up to your image of them in your mind. Talk about the best Welcome Wagon ever. I was the happiest person on Earth afterward.
Cloud 9 exists.
I've been there.
I never met or saw him again after that morning, but I probably went to that place for breakfast about 20 times over the next few years hoping for another run-in.
The memory of this meeting came flooding back to me this morning with the news of his passing. It made me as happy as the news of death saddened me. Later today I'll go for a drive and listen to that iconic theme song to The Rockford Files while cruising up the Pacific Coast Highway to Paradise Cove.
Rest In Peace Mr. Garner, and thank you for your time.
http://www.deadline.com/2014/07/rip-james-garner/
My dog loves America, but hates the 4th of July
She hates fireworks.
They freak her out big time.
Mrs. Pooka got a Thundershirt a couple years ago and I must admit it does work.
Pulled it out last night after the kids started celebrating the 4th early and she calmed down.
She gets so scared/anxious we now go for a car ride in the evening on the 4th so she can't hear all the bang bangs.
The irony is Mrs. Pooka LOVES Fireworks displays.
Fortunately there is a mall parking lot we can park in to watch the town fireworks display so we get a win win, kinda.
Profile Information
Name: Harvey the RabbitGender: Male
Hometown: New England
Home country: USA
Current location: Hollywood
Member since: Wed Aug 3, 2011, 01:52 PM
Number of posts: 24,223