I asked who all was going to be there... if Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy (who has his own website), or Tiger Cheater Woods (who I am not a huge fan of but hey... I know who he is), were going to be there then I might have asked for a ticket my self. However, he assured me that they wouldn't. This wasn't "that big of a tournament"! So I said great, I'll drop you off at the casino and then run around town while you do that... I had plans to drive around town, maybe check out Target and then to go to Barnes and Noble where I would sit, look trendy with my coffee, glasses, iphone and mac... all while catching my blog up. (Hopefully finally posting about this upcoming bike trip.) Well I am now sitting at B&N with coffee, glasses, iphone and mac, and I AM blogging... but the Bike trip can wait..
We got to the Casino a bit early and I decided to go inside and visit with my Father In Law a bit before heading "to town,"...
SIDE NOTE: The current time was 7:30am, that means I was up at 5:30 am to get ready to leave my house at 6:15 for the hour drive to the Casino, little did I know it would all be worth it!! Luckily I put my make up on on the way to Tulsa, my original plan was to do it in the parking lot as I waited for Target to open.
Anyways... as I was saying ...
As my precious husband and I were walking in this very tall, well dressed man walked between us. We both turned at the same time (like in a movie) and did a double take. Then stared at each other and Andrew said... "I think that is Craig T. Nelson." I said "Uh me too!! Its COACH!!" Then we stumbled into the lobby to try to find my FIL. We ran into some one that works there and Andrew asked if our suspicions were right. He said, "Yeah! He is here to watch the tournament. He was in the casino last night having a good time. Mingling with all the 'locals'!" I asked the guy if he thought Mr. Nelson would mind if I took a picture with him. He said no way! He was snapping pictures with people right and left last night. So... I, Heather Lynn Hunt Schumacher, thought to my self "You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." (Quote from We Bought a Zoo.. if you haven't seen it GO NOW and rent it. Its at Red Box... GREAT movie!!) So I did it...
I walked up to him he had just lit his cigar and was talking with an employee who quickly walked off when I got there, and I, Heather Lynn Hunt Schumacher (NO I don't still have my maiden name as part of my name, but it makes me sound much more... well how I felt, little girl like, small, scared, timid... something I haven't been in a while.) said, "Hi, Mr. Nelson. I grew up watching Coach and I am a big fan! Can I take a picture with you? It would really make my dad's day!" (I'm not sure why I threw that in there instead of making it personal... it totally made my day, but I do know my dad has always been a fan, but then again who hasn't. My mom is a fan, my brother, my husband and I'm even almost 100% sure that the crazy man sitting a table away from me at B&N is a fan.) He said, "Well sure!" and put his cigar down and then put his arm around me!! HE put his arm around me. I was just going to stand there nervously and try not to shake... but he Craig T. Nelson gave me a side hug! I will never wash this dress again. I am pretty sure I threw my phone at my husband who quickly very cool and calm like he wasn't phased at all took the picture. It is a little blurry but I'm pretty sure thats because I was 'all shook up'! He smelled like cigar smoke and alcohol. It was beautiful. I could smell him! He is TALL! He is handsome! He is nice. He was nicely dressed. He was kind. He took time to give this nutty girl (woman- I feel so strange calling myself a woman... I still feel like a little girl, especially when I'm hugging a famous person!!) a picture that will always be special.
Thank you Mr. Nelson for the time and the picture. Thank you for the years you spent on the hit TV show Coach and for the current one that I love, Parenthood. Every time I watch the show I will think about this moment in time... the moment that I am sure you forgot about as soon as your Lexus picked you up for your ride to the course.
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| Me and Mr. Craig T. Nelson. May 28, 2012. He smelled like cigar smoke and alcohol. It was a beautiful moment. |
