Turning Japanese I Really Think So

And now that I've gotten The Vapors song firmly stuck in your head, click the pic and watch the trailer for Keanu's latest action extravaganza.

As some of you know, Keanu and I met once back in 1989 when he was here in Orlando filming Parenthood. I had a friend of a friend who was a Production Assistant on the film, and she'd heard I had a classic schoolgirl crush. I'd just seen River's Edge and Permanent Record and had my sixth sense that he was going to be big. I also somehow knew that he was a gentle, intelligent, very guarded soul. 

The P.A. invited me to the set where I waited outside for hours in the sun, nervously reapplying Maybelline lip gloss (I was only 19; I didn't know yet about high-end cosmetics), running lines in my head to ensure I wouldn't say anything childish or cliche. 

Of course when the moment arrived, I did both. I never got a photo. My sixth sense dropped the ball on that one. Doesn't matter. I can see it just fine in my head. The way he smiled down at me, holding onto my hand while he asked about my life with a quiet intensity.

When people ask me what he was like, I say this: not only was he the nicest celebrity I've ever met, he was one of the nicest human beings I've ever met, period.

Over the years, I've felt a little protectively towards him. Wishing I could shield him from snarky publicity and snotty reviews. He's a good person. Lay off. 

Maybe I'll bump into him again someday. We'll both be 25 years older. He'll have 25 years of stardom, travel and scars. I'll have the perfect shade of Clinique lipstick and patience.

And this time I won't take a picture on purpose. Because 25 years later, I'd rather have the words.

P.S. If you're a cinephile like me, check out Keanu's documentary Side By Side, a fascinating look at the evolution of digital filmmaking.