Frank Apisa wrote:I rode into New York on the train this week...and my seating companion was Senator Frank Lautenburg.
Great guy...gutsy!
We had a long talk about all sorts of things...and I reminded him of an incident that happened about 10 - 12 years ago.
I was at a Democratic Party function (I was a Dem at the time)...and saw him standing alone...so I went over and asked him to autograph my dinner menu. I had a pen I offered him...and while signing, he mentioned that the pen (one of those felt tipped jobs) was excellent for signing autographs. He asked my name...addressed the autograph to me...and joked about us both being Franks.
About 20 minutes later...while I am at a table with all the bigwigs from my hometown (Mayor, Freeholders, State assemblyman, council members)...over walks Frank Lautenburg...puts a hand on my shoulder and says, "Hey Frank...lemme borrow your pen, will ya."
Well...the rest of the table who had gotten silent at the senator's approach...damn near shyt.
I gave him the pen....and in an expansive mood, said, "Keep it."
The senator, being a pragmatic guy, was taking the train from Newark to the Big Apple so as to avoid getting stuck in traffic. Traffic in our area is hell in late afternoon. And it gave me a chance to speak with him...and post here in this thread.
For some reason encounters with politicians has the same brush with fame quality as with the "stars."
When I was working in a library in Rhode Island Patrick Kennedy strolled in just before closing time. When we were definitely closed, no one had seen him leave the building. I found him on the level where the pay phones were. He was just putting some coins into the phone and I interupted him. He whirled around and gave me this up and down as if I were wearing a gold lamay gown and just offered to give him a blow-job. All I did was tell him we were closed. Oh, that Kennedy charm.
