You voted. I listened.
Third, When Matt is on the road he obviously has had many opportunities to meet really cool people. Rock icons, TV and movie folks, and all around interesting public figures. BUT I seem to miss nearly every. single. damn. opportunity to meet cool, famous people because as you know, MY LIFE AS A MUSICIANS WIFE is not nearly as glamorous and simply put, I’m usually at home taking care of kids.
Lucky for me, on this particular occasion we decided to trek my sleep deprived, nursing, mothering self the 8 hours from Flag to L.A. with the whole brood just so I could have one freaking night out on the town. (We go to great lengths for date nights). My incredible younger sister Chelsea came to our hotel to watch the kids so I could go and have a fun ML as a MW night with my hubby (Thank You BUG!) And luck was with me that night for sure! I mean Tom Hanks you guys!
At the time Matt was working with some of the other Beach Boy kids. They had a group for 5 minutes called California Saga and they were asked to perform at an awards event. I believe it was called the ELLA awards and it was held at the fancy Beverly Hilton which is where they have the Golden Globes every year. I think it was the second time I joined Matt for a show at that venue. Always fun. Definitely glamorous.
Tom (like we’re on a first name basis now) was at the event supporting his wife, actress and singer Rita Wilson. She was performing at the event.
To set the scene for you, at some of these events there is a “Green Room”. A green room is basically a holding room backstage for the performers to hang out in before they go on stage. Sometimes the really famous people have their own “private” green rooms. But at this event it was one giant room for everyone who was performing that night.
Green rooms are usually filled with either banquet style gourmet food and fully stocked ice buckets of drinks galore, OR they are filled with a measly tray of room temperature cold cuts, bottled water and some soda. I can’t even recall what this one was like because as I walked in, who was standing there?
(Ok, so if you’ve seen Splash 100 times, like me you will recall Eugene Levy saying BEHOLD THE MERMAID! Geez you guys, do I have to spell everything out for you?!)
Self talk really works people.
Smart move. Of course. Tom would surely know my father-in-law Al Jardine. Everyone knows the Beach Boys, right?
So, I go up to my pops-in-law and quietly say “Al, I really want to meet Tom Hanks.” If you know my PIL he could make conversation with aliens from another planet. He is one of the best public speakers I know and always has an easy way of conversing with anyone. Years in the business I suppose.
He took me over and tapped on Tom’s shoulder (BTW, Mr. Hanks is so tall in real life).
Here is how the conversation went down:
Tom: Absolutely.
This was 2014 so I pulled out my fancy iphone 4s and handed it to some nice person and we took this picture.
I then got up the nerve and asked him if he would take a selfie with me because really, as much as I love my father in law I didn’t want him in between me and Tom for my one dang picture of me and Tom Hanks.
Tom obliged and he started joking with me and said “Let me have your phone, I’ll show you how to take a great selfie. And inside I was like “OMG Tom has his arm around me, and he’s taking the selfie of just the two of us and I will treasure it forever and pull it out to reminisce about the time we hung out like old buddies every Christmas when I watch “You’ve got Mail” for the millionth time and…more Sooz brain ramblings. I take my phone back and graciously back away and I low key find a private spot and open up my photos and find this:
Yes, that’s my husband. Matt Jardine. Photobombing my crowning glory of a photo. Because you see he doesn’t have enough photos with famous people, so he had to freaking get in mine! Ugh! But at least I have my picture of that one time I met Tom Hanks…and my husband.
I was literally in my head like what in the hell is going on here?! They think they know me from a party in the Hollywood Hills.
Anyway, he approached me and said “Hey how are you! It’s good to see you again!”
And now I’m like, I’m either getting punk’d or in the twilight zone.
We had a little laugh about it and then I worked up the nerve to ask if he’d take a picture with me because, well hell, when in Hollywood right?
And anyway, they just may think they already met you… at that party…at Tom Jones…
xo, Sj
What a funny story!I loved it!
Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m so glad you loved it. I sure appreciate the kind words. -Sooz
I love your Tom Hanks story!!! I can identify with how you felt when meeting him. I could barely speak when I met Bruce Johnston. He must have know I was speechless and star struck…he then started the conversation. He was so incredibly kind and there I was all shy and afraid if I opened my mouth who knows what I might have said. Sad thing is I had rehearsed what I would say and wanted him to know how much his music meant to me after losing my husband. I have since met him again and still get all weird and clam up 😐
I actually met your husband and pops in law back in 1997. They were both so charming and put everyone at ease.
Haha. I’m not alone with the clam up!