It's Not Every Day You Meet a Movie Megastar

Imagine my surprise when I noticed him peek around the guard, smile that famous smile of his right at me, then shake his head as if to say "This is silly" and wave me into the foyer.

Now, I'm not what you would call a celebrity stargazer, but I have to say I experienced one of those moments yesterday, in which against all common sense, the magnitude of fame leaves you positively giddy...

...I mean let's face it: it's not every day you meet a movie megastar like Tom Cruise.

I work for a prominent Canadian television company; Cruise was scheduled to make an appearance on one of our network entertainment programs. I had popped out quickly to grab lunch and was returning to the office, when I was met by security blocking me from entering the front doors of our building.

There in the foyer stood Cruise, waiting to make his entrance into our storefront studio.

At this point, I thought to myself, 'OK, I know the drill': I'd become accustomed to the building-wide emails cautioning staff to, "avoid eye contact" and "refrain from asking for photos and autographs", whenever celebrities were in-house. Imagine my surprise when I noticed him peek around the guard, smile that famous smile of his right at me then, shake his head as if to say "This is silly" and wave me into the foyer.

Coming through the doors, I grinned back and said, "Thank you, Mr. Cruise." By this time he had turned toward me. There we were...face to face.

I told him that it was very nice to meet him. Never breaking his smile - or my eye contact - he told me likewise and offered his hand...

...so I shook it.

I continued onto the elevators. Did that really just happen?