(NOTE: For 31 years, I have been a major fan of the actor/director/producer, Lou Diamond Phillips and for the last three years, I have been FOLLOWING him on the social network known as "Twitter". I began following him and his wife, Yvonne, during his appearance on NBC's "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!" and a year later, wound up being FOLLOWED by him!
Since then, he has been quite gracious to me and we have tweeted back and forth with each other- with general observations and comments to various topics and discussions- in as much as one can fit into 140 characters! When I contacted him and informed him that Hubby and I would be attending the Wednesday night show of the King and I, and asked if we could have a chance to meet up with him, he quickly replied, asking if we could join him following the performance backstage AND for drinks! I passed out and when I came to and changed myself, I still had trouble to conceive that the event would actually happen!
We contacted his cousin, Michelle and her fiance, Rich and told them we would be in KC for a few days and asked if could we see them and would they join us for the performance? Unexpected circumstances, however, just before departure made it impossible for Hubby to travel with me. I was prepared to cancel the entire trip but Hubby insisted that I go...)
Following a couple of rather ordinary flights to KC, I arrived on Tuesday morning and checked into the Intercontinental at the Plaza and settled myself in. When I woke up yesterday morning, June 8Th, I tried to pretend it was just another day- I tried to occupy my mind throughout the day by taking a swim, visiting the World War 1 Museum and trying to relax, but deep in my stomach was a undeniable excitement and apprehension knot.
I dressed and waited patiently for Michelle and Rich to join me, although I began to get apprehensive when they ran behind on time. It was when not one, but TWO limousines showed up, that I suddenly became very nervous! (It seems Hubby had ordered one, as did I!) The problem was quickly resolved and we were off to the Starlight Theater and an evening of entertainment... little did I know how much the evening's events would have an impact on me...
We arrived at the theater, which is a beautiful outdoor venue with fountains and natural floral surroundings,and multi-kiosks offering everything from popcorn to pizza, but we chose to grab a beer and settled into our seats just as the stage curtain rose, revealing a beautifully designed set dressed by two very authentic-looking Siamese dancers/elephant panels on either side of the stage. The play began with "Mrs. Anna and Louie" arriving by ship in Bangkok... and from there on, I was lost. I found myself whistling to "A Happy Tune" and wasnearly brought to tears as Rachel Bay Jones sang "Hello Young Lovers". I took delight when the King of Siam took the stage- describing his dilemas in "A Puzzlement" and explaining the facts of life (as he knew it) in "Song of the King". I loved watching "Little House of Uncle Tom" and wished I was in the arms of the King as he guided Mrs. Anna aroud the ballroom floor. I even found myself shedding a couple of tears when the King of Siam dies and leaves Mrs. Anna in charge of completing his children education of "things scientific".
Following the performance, we went to a designated area and gave our name to the host, who led us to a waiting area with a handful of other people waiting for the cast and ensemble to drift out of the stage door. Then finally, Lou Diamond appeared and began chatting with some other people before he approached us, looking directly at me as if to say..."And you are?". I stuttered my name and something stupid. Then suddenly, felt two wonderful, strong arms wrapping themselves around me. Somehow, I managed to wrap one arm around his neck and the other around his very strong and muscular torso and we held each other close! He held me tightly for a moment and then, pulling away, he gave me a gentle kiss and said, "Hello, Frith!" I was gone. I struggled to remembered to introduce my guests, stuttering and stammering slightly as I introduced Michelle and Rich, whom he greeted and shook hands with. He then invited us to join him for beers at a bar called Turner's Grille.
We arrived about 45 minutes at the bar before Lou did and wound up chatting with two wonderful men, Eric and Damon, who were also meeting up with him. Damon had us in stitches with his "militant African-American" humor until Lou arrived and a small intimate group began to form that included Brian Mathis, who played the ship's Captain as well as the orchestra's conductor, Eugene Gwozdz- who, it turns out, went to school at the University of Texas-Arlington with Lou! I manage to ask Lou a few personal questions about Yvonne and his daughter, Indigo- got to hear about of a couple of projects he has coming up and we shared some banters and some personal notations back and forth before we looked up and noticed that it was getting very late (nearly 2:00AM!) and my guests had to go to work in just a few hours. He signed my ticket, took a couple of pictures with us, giving us all mutliple hugs before we parted and as we climbed back into the limousine, we got lost in the high from the night's events, talking all the while back to the hotel. We all agreed that it was truly a wonderfu, magical evening.
When I got back to the room, it was nearly 2:15 but I had to call Hubby and tell him about the night! I woke up at 6:00AM and had to get out of bed and got down on my knees in thankful prayer-for last night was a blessing and I could not let another moment pass by with out acknowledging all the Blessings that I received and have always had...
Last night, I met someone who is not only a terrific actor, loving husband and father but is a very remarkable man and human being. As a result of this experience, I feel just a little closer to a man whom I once only thought of as " a celebrity and movie star". I now feel safe and proud to call him... a friend. I hope he feels the same.
