Meeting Dan Aykroyd

    People, friends, acquaintances, ask me, “What do you do in your retirement?  What do you do all day?”   Well, a variety of things.  My options are open.  Opportunities are everywhere, should I choose to avail myself.

    One day several years ago, my husband, Jay, and I read an article in our local newspaper,  that one of our favorite actors/comedians, Dan Aykroyd, was coming to San Antonio to introduce his new vodka, Crystal Head .  Folks were invited to a large liquor distributor’s location for a “meet and greet”.  Sounded like fun – interesting – why not?

    When we arrived, we found the store was at the end of a strip mall.  Even though there was a large parking lot, vacant spaces to park were  limited.  There was more than two hours until the guest of honor even appeared!  We found a parking spot, and walked across the lot to a line that had already stated to “queue” on the covered sidewalk outside the shops.  The standing room only line snaked back around and then into the parking lot.  Police officers had taped off areas where people could stand without worrying about getting hit by cars.  The line was quite long – very long. 

    While waiting for Mr. Aykroyd’s appearance, we enjoyed looking at those in the crowd.  Many wore “Blues Brothers” attire, or “Ghostbuster” gear, t-shirts with associated photos, and anything related to those movies.  Of course, we could have dressed in costume, but in April, it was already starting to be in the 80s, so we decided to dress in our normal clothes.

    The Crystal Head Vodka bus had arrived and was parked at the end of the strip mall.  Most of the security detail and police were getting photos with Dan, so it was difficult for anyone in the queue to get out of line and try to obtain a personal photo.  That’s okay, we thought, we will see him inside.

    Well, as the two hour period for his appearance inside kept getting shorter and shorter, and the line was still long, I wondered if we would actually get to even “see” Dan.  Fortunately, as the time continued to pass, the line moved, and we were almost at the table where Dan was seated.

    Dan was sitting in the middle of a table, and it appeared that it was a bit inconvenient for both him and the attendees to reach across the table to shake hands and then attempt a photograph.  Dan would have to lean far over the table.  Right before our turn to meet Dan, he decided it was time to stretch his legs, get out from behind the table, and meet the people as they came to shake his hand.  Of course, this probably concerned his security detail, but there weren’t any problems.

    My turn came, and I showed Dan a photograph of our “Jake and Elwood”, our two Belgian Malanois dogs that we had named after the characters in “The Blues Brothers”.  Dan was quite delighted and asked if he could sign the photograph.   “Yes, please!”   I was thrilled! He signed his name with the same silver pen he used to sign the vodka bottles.  Then I got my personal photograph – I was one happy girl!  I also got a quick photo with Jay and Dan and one with the three of us. 

    The afternoon had been a success:  we met Dan Aykroyd, he signed our dog picture (which now is framed and in a prominent spot on our bar), we had photographs with Dan, and we bought his Crystal Head Vodka (which he signed), both for ourselves and one for a friend. 

    Time and time again when people ask me what I do in retirement, I reply “many things”.  I enjoy reading, writing this blog, catching up with friends on social media, antiquing, meeting girlfriends at reunions in other cities and states, traveling with my husband, lunching/shopping with girlfriends, walking, zumba, bunco. 

   Then there are the everyday things that make retirement unique:  waking up whenever you feel like it; enjoying a matinee movie; wearing PJs all morning while you watch old black and white murder mysteries on the television; running errands whenever you want; cleaning projects (like cupboards) that you promised yourself to do after you retire or just being spontaneous and doing whatever life offers.     

    The possibilities in retirement are endless.  There are so many opportunities.  You just have to decide what you want to do and do it – like meet a special actor on a hot, San Antonio afternoon.  It just may be the most exciting adventure you’ve had all day.