When living in LA is cool

Last night, Dick and I went to this benefit that was put together by his boss. She's a philanthropist, so there are three events each year that she throws that we get to go to, plus there are occasionally others she buys tickets to and gives to us.

It's always fun to pretend we're people who can afford to go to these things.

Two of the events each years that his boss puts together are by and for the Professional Dancers Society, so at both the Fall Ball and the spring luncheon, someone is being honored for their accomplishments in dance.

Some years are more interesting than others.

The evening started out not boding well. First the heavens opened up and started flooding our neighborhood, so that the only way to get to our car was to wade. In heels, this was not a happy experience. Of course, with this kind of rain, traffic blew.

We arrive to find out that we're the only table not being given wine (I think they just forgot?); the rolls brought out are actually *stale*, and then the meal that follows wasn't a whole lot better than the Lean Cuisine meals I buy for lunch.

But then ... it all turned.

The show opened with Mitzi Gaynor, the president of PDS, and if you've never watched her in front of a live audience, she is a hoot. Her speech was short and sweet, and then they did the requisite video footage of dance films through the year.

Then there was the requsite comedian. This year, Max Alexander. Only .. this year ... the comedian was actually FUNNY. Seriously funny. Laughing so hard I could hardly breathe funny. (Trust me, at these events, if they make you smile, it's a good night.)

This year's honoree was Joe Tremaine, a man I admit I knew little about but instantly felt a kinship to when I found out he was born in Louisiana. As a tribute, some of his faculty, students & past students put together a performance, which was absolutely positively mind-blowing. These dancers were awe-inspiring. (I leaned over to Dick and said, "Can we get them to perform every year?") This was, hands-down, the best entertainment at one of these events, ever.

To introduce Joe was Chita Rivera. She is so lovely, and gracious, and funny ... it was definitely one of the best introduction speeches. (Last year's introduction speech given by this woman here went on for days, I think. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.)

Joe gets up, and proceeds to give the best acceptance speech ever, as well.

It's all fun, everyone's having a great time, and we leave thinking "gosh, is it over already?" (Last year we were at the table thinking "Dear God, we're never leaving, are we ...")

But wait. Now we're REALLY getting to the cool part.

We're in line to get our car. Ahead of us is a Deluise. We can't remember which one. I mean, we know which one - he's the one on GILMORE GIRLS - but we can't remember his name. (His parents are big fans of dance and supporters of the PDS - actually Dom was honored one year, which was a hoot.)

We get close to the window to turn in our tickets. And I missed exactly what happened, but he started looking kind of perplexed about the system (which, to be fair, at an event of several hundred people all trying to leave at one time is almost always a little chaotic). Finally he turns, he happens to catch my eye, and says, "You'd think I've done this before." I started laughing, and he continues, "I think we need a choreographer." I laugh more.

He extends his hand. "Hi, I'm Michael," he says.
"I'm Tracy," I say, shaking his hand.
"So did you have a good time tonight?"
"I did. It was fabulous."
"Yes, it was."
"It makes me wish I could dance."
"Me, too."
"Whatcha gonna do?"
"Sit in the audience and clap a lot."
"Good solution. I like it."

... and then his keys were given to him, and off he went in search of his car.

But my mind was totally blown, because even though I've been near met celebs of various levels, this was the first time that someone has just decided to introduce themselves to me, in a very genuine way.

Michael Deluise. Very cool.