OK, one more anecdote. Nobody here has probably heard of him (Barb would know him), but Dave Pirner is the lead singer of the Minneapolis-based band Soul Asylum, which was a nationally popular alt-rock band back in the '90s. Their biggest hit was "Runaway Train." He dated Wynona Ryder for a while.
I used to listen to Soul Asylum a lot in the car with the kids when they were in grade school, before they developed their own tastes. They really liked the band. So one day Jack, in 4th or 5th grade at the time, was in the liquor store with me and in walks Dave Pirner. I quietly pointed him out to Jack and Jack ran over as Dave Pirner was checking out and opened the door for him. "Thanks, man," Dave Pirner said.
It was a thrill for Jack, but what I thought at the time is that he should have told Dave Pirner he was a big Soul Asylum fan. Switcheroo -- that probably would have been kind of a thrill for Dave PIrner, then in his 40s and no longer making hit records, to have a 10-year-old fan.
That's a cool story! It is too bad he didn't say he was a fan.
My friend Cor and her daughter Kayla are both big Pat Benatar fans. Obviously, Kayla became one by listening to Benatar in the car while Cor drove. 7 years ago, Pat Benatar released a book, and Cor went to a book signing, took Kayla with her, who was 10 at the time.
As Cor was getting her book signed, all Kayla could do was look at Benatar with wide-eyes. When PB asked Kayla if everything was ok, Kayla replied with "I know all your songs, I listen to them with mommy in car. I love them."
PB was so touched someone so young loved her music, she got up from her chair, and went around the table and gave Kayla a big hug.