I crossed paths with Sidney Poitier

In the late ‘80’s I worked for an insurance company that was conducting a boring audit of airline insurance sales with tickets. I managed to ditch my boss for a break in Ohare’s American Airlines lounge.

As I sat down in the large room I looked across to see only one other customer — a man buried behind a newspaper. At one point as the waiter filled his drink, he lowered the newspaper and I was shocked to see that it was Sidney Poitier.

In awe and fear of being a nuisance, I mustered up the courage to walk across the room. Standing next to him I managed to stammer out a request for his autograph. He reached for something to sign and the only thing I had readily available was an American Airlines ticket sleeve.

He graciously signed it, I thanked him and turned clutching my treasure to hurriedly go and tell my boss.

What a memory.

PS. I’ve searched all of my memorabilia for the ticket sleeve today but couldn’t find it.