Once in a Lifetime

Meeting my idol

We touched down at JFK around 3pm. The terminal was swamped! I had been to the Atlanta airport, but JFK seemed 10 times worse. I made my way to the baggage carousel to retrieve my suitcase. Surprisingly it didn't take long so I was able to escape the airport quickly.

I had arranged with the hotel to have a car waiting at the airport when I arrived. I saw the car in the sea of yellow cabs and made my way over.

"Are you Ms. Summers?" The gentleman asked, holding the car door open.

"Yes, I am. Thank you so much," I replied as the car driver put my luggage in the trunk.

He shut the trunk and climbed into the drivers seat. "Your welcome ma'am. It's about a 20 minute drive to the hotel, so just relax. We'll be there in no time," he said pulling out into the airport traffic.

"What's your name?" I asked, trying to be polite.

"Gary," he replied, never taking his eyes off the crazy traffic.

"It's nice to meet you," I replied as I looked out the window, enthralled with the sights passing by as we drove through the heart of New York City.

True to his word, we pulled up to our hotel a little over 20 minutes later. Gary helped me with my luggage, slamming the trunk lid as I pulled a $20 out and handed it to him. He looked a little surprised. "You are an awesome driver! I appreciate you picking me up," I said, heading toward the front door.

"Thank you!" He exclaimed, hoping into the car. I waved before entering the hotel. It didn't take long for me to get checked in and settled into my room.

I unpacked and decided to walk the blocks around the hotel. The sidewalks were filled with people, many New Yorkers rushing to get home, others heading to the shops and restaurants that filled the city and others tourists like me. I found a quaint Italian restaurant down the block and decided to get some dinner. I had just been seated near the back when a small commotion at the front of the building caught my eye. The waiter came up to take my order, so I didn't pay much attention to what was going on around me. The waiter left and I pulled my phone out to check my messages.

A moment later, someone bumped into my table, upsetting the glass of water the waiter had just set down. The water missed my phone but spilled over a little into my lap. I grabbed a napkin and began sopping the water up when a voice from my left asked, "I'm so sorry! Is your phone ok?"

I looked up, my eyes widening as I realized that it was the man I looked up to and watched every night on the Tonight Show. When I didn't say anything, Jimmy Fallon casually sat down across from me and smiled.

Finally finding my voice, I replied quietly, "Yes, the phone is ok. My lap is another story."

He laughed, handing me the napkin that was sitting in front of him. I took it from him and put it in my lap as he said, "By your face I can tell you know who I am." He stuck his hand out and I took it, shaking his hand. "Jimmy Fallon. What's your name?"

I let go of his hand as I replied, "Karen."

"That's a pretty name. Are you from around here?"

"No. I live in Michigan." I started to feel a little overwhelmed from this celebrity sitting two feet across from me. "Thank you for stopping and apologizing. I'd better let you get back to whatever you were doing."

Jimmy looked a little shocked that I was basically dismissing him. I guess he was used to people fawning over him, holding him up. But I didn't want to impose. I felt bad already that he had stopped to even talk to me. But his face slipped back to his easy-going smile and he stood up. "It was nice to meet you Karen from Michigan. I hope you are able to make it to the show while you are here."