I’m willing to bet that we have something in common: we admire someone from afar and will never get a chance to tell them about our appreciation of their talents.<\/p>\n
Please follow me on Twitter<\/a>, and “Like” the Facebook author page<\/a>. Don’t forget to subscribe (the box is on the right side of the page) to be eligible for free e-books and other benefits!<\/p>\n That’s one of the joys of having a blog: you can do something about it and hope that the recipient sees it in their Google Alerts.<\/a><\/p>\n Given the paltry chance that I’ll be recognized, but hoping that I’ll find this exercise cathartic, I wish to write the following fan letter to some of my favorite personalities that remain with us. (The dead ones I will hopefully catch up with in Heaven.)<\/p>\n Don Rickles<\/a>, I love you. You have cracked me up for decades. I had the joy of seeing you perform live in Las Vegas about six years ago and it was amazing. I honor your service to this nation as a veteran (a fellow sailor, I might add) and as an entertainer who has gone out of his way to entertain the military over the years. Your stories, movie performances, and stand-up routine are all fun. But nobody will ever top you for the Dean Martin Roasts <\/a>and your appearances on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson<\/a>. You are a gentle man beneath it all and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the laughs, and the influence you’ve had on my sense of humor.<\/p>\n Maureen O’Hara<\/a>. So many wonderful performances, so much humor, such beauty and grace. If life were a movie I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want you as a costar. You enlivened every thing I ever saw you in, and made film history fun for this amateur student of the art. I am awed by the depth of your performances as a young woman. I am amazed at your ability to play physical comedy late in your career. You are one astounding woman.<\/p>\n William Shatner<\/a>. Mr. Shatner, you are quite a mix of things – all of them entertaining. You are funny and smart. I enjoyed you in so many roles over the years and yet you were the butt of so many jokes about your acting style. I bet you laughed all the way to the bank. As a lesser known actor and voice talent, I’m blown away by your chops on the microphone. Your demolishing of a studio weasel<\/a> a few years ago ranks as the greatest booth performance I have had the honor to listen to in my life. You gave me a role model in Captain Kirk<\/a>; it was fine to be concerned but do it anyway because it was the right thing to do. I know it was scripted, but you brought it to life. Thanks, Mr. Shatner – you’re far more than your critics will ever admit, and much greater than all of them: they just criticize, you do.<\/p>\n Lots more to do here, but enough for today. Don’t croak, Mel Brooks<\/a>: you’re on the list next.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"