OK, here's a small story.

Many, many years ago, I was shopping at Chicago's Marshall Field's (not that crappy Macy's) store in Michigan Avenue's Water Tower Place. (For those who do not know Chicago, this was not the big State Street Marshall Field's.) I was just browsing and walking around looking at the clothes on the racks and suddenly, across the room there was ... EVE ARDEN. I recognized her right away, partly from her old TV show "Our Miss Brooks", but also from many movies. Even then, I loved old movies and always enjoyed her appearances. A movie was always better for her participation.

She was quite tall and accompanied by a tall man I took to be her husband. She was looking through a rack of white blouses.

It was very strange, really, seeing someone I clearly recognized but who was in a place that was completely unexpected. I don't know why she was in town - probably for some play or other.

I was across the room, maybe 20 - 30 feet away (I'm no good at judging distances) when I noticed her and I just stopped. It never occurred to me to approach her and speak to her. It was just one of those times you see someone that you "know" in the manner that all of us "know" actors and actresses from film or TV. So, I just stood there, at a distance and watched her for no more than a minute, like any other shopper, searching through the rack of blouses.

Suddenly, she looked up from the blouses, right across at me and in some faint way, acknowledged me. I can't really explain or describe what she did, but it was just a flash, perhaps just eye contact, perhaps a slight nod, I'm really not sure.

I went on my way and she went back to the blouses.

Reading this thread has reminded me of that incident. Thinking back, I don't know what I wanted from her, if anything. I had no expectations. I would never have spoken to her or interrupted her or called attention to her when she was clearly just doing normal stuff. It was a nice moment for me. She didn't have to look at me, could have ignored me, I didn't expect it, but when it happened, so quick, it was nice.

I supposed performers today get so much attention from so many untrustworthy, not to mention truly dangerous people, they probably find it safer to just put on blinders.