Shirley MacLaine, 83, is an award-winning American actress, singer, dancer and author who is known for her roles in films such as “Terms of Endearment” and “Steel Magnolias.”
Walking on New York City’s Park Avenue one summer day during lunch hour, I stopped at a crosswalk along with dozens of other people waiting for the light to change. Scrunched together as we were, New Yorkers tend to look straight ahead and not engage in any eye contact.
I, however, glanced to my left and realized that I was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with actress Shirley MacLaine. Our eyes met and I, without skipping a beat, said, “Nice to be anonymous, isn’t it?” Her eyes twinkled in acknowledgement, she nodded ever so slightly and smiled gratefully.
An instant later, the light changed and we went on our way into the sea of strangers. I never regretted not asking for an autograph or acknowledging her in any other way. Just knowing she knew that I knew was reward enough.
Stew Mosberg, Bayfield, member of La Plata Electric
Photo credit: SHIRLEY MACLAINE . ACTRICE AMERICAINE . FESTIVAL DU CINEMA AMERICAIN . DEAUVILLE . SEPTEMBRE 1987. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/. Photo cropped to accommodate Colorado Country Life website format.