Michelle Sighting Last Night!

[MKGrace]

Guess who was Christmas shopping in Beverly Hills last night??? Tragically I wasn't the one saw her, but a friend of mine did and she notified me via e-mail. "Bev Ctr" is the Beverly Center shopping mall. Here's what she said:

So I was at the Bev Ctr last night...and who did I see Christmas shopping but Michelle Kwan! Thought of you of course. I looked over and saw a group of people taking pictures with their camera phones and thought they were tourists at first. Then I realized they were all taking turns getting their pictures taken with her. She was with her mom, who I recognize from all the skating I used to watch

Our girl is home for the holidays!!

[WorldsGreatestMK]

Yay, I might catch her sometime I am going to LA

[scootie12]

Hmmmmm, I better finish my holiday shopping over in Beverly Hills. Maybe I'll be lucky and run into her.

[WorldsGreatestMK]

Hmmmmm, I better finish my holiday shopping over in Beverly Hills. Maybe I'll be lucky and run into her.

perhaps we will meet her together

[scootie12]

LOL, oh yeah, you're heading to LA for real?

that will be fun for you

[WorldsGreatestMK]

LOL, oh yeah, you're heading to LA for real?

that will be fun for you

ya, every year i go, my cousins house, we celebrate the holidays there...maybe i will meet michelle's parents again and get another autographed picture or maybe meet karen or michelle or caroline

[MKGrace]

I pumped my friend for details, what she was wearing, where she was shopping etc. She thinks Michelle was wearing all black but she's not sure, she doesn't recall her carrying any bags but after she was mobbed by fans and photos, she and Estelle went into Louis Vitton.

[MyTonyaMyMichelle]

I have seen Lindsay Davenport (my fave tennis player ) around a few times, but I've never got to see Michelle.

[IzzyS]

I don't know if Michelle would agree with me, but I personally think it's cool that she gets mobbed by fans. There are a lot of us out there, I suppose!

I think of Michelle whenever I go to the Beverly Center, which is rare since I'm not a big fan of that particular mall. But I remember my best friend took me there for dinner on my birthday, and it was right between the 1998 ladies SP and the 1998 ladies LP. Michelle had skated incredibly well the night before and I was so excited for the free program. I'm sure it's all I talked about the whole time.

[michelle2006]

thanks for telling us this. It totally brightened my day. Michelle, stop by the forum when you get the chance !

[skatesindreams]

It's great to hear that she is home.

[Katty52]

It's great to hear that she is home.

Yes, HOME and getting ready for the Holidays, such fun.

[iceman]

I would love to have seen Michelle in a store, but knowing she was trying to get her xmas shopping done toward the last minute or, for that matter, whatever she was doing, the most i would have done would have been to say hello to her as I passed her walking toward me. I have never understand why fans feel they have the right to intrude on a public person this way. That she and her mother retreated to another store is some indication that this may have prevented her from getting done what she wanted and needed to get done. Some will respond that this is the price of fame. Of course, Michelle was her usual gracious self. If you are really a fan of someone is this the way to show your caring. Not for me, although I certainly understand the impulse to behave otherwise.

[Miss Eggplant]

Interesting, iceman. As I read this thread I started to think, "Wow, they're just going up there taking turns in photos with her ... ithey're treating her like an object." Of course, that is how our entire culture views celebrities. The moment a celebrity steps within a 50-foot radius, even sensible folk are overcome with the undeniable urge to run over and talk/get a photo/drool. I am no better -- once my best friend and I spent an hour literally chasing a celebrity through an amusement park. It wasn't even someone I liked (some actor; I can't even remember his name now!) but the fact that we recognized him made us crazy. Weird.

I am sure Michelle, being as gracious and kind of understanding as she is, often doesn't mind these run-ins with fans. But even if she did mind and just wanted to get the heck on with her shopping, she would be too classy to let on.

This also reminds me of a story my old college philosophy professor told us one day in class. His hugest idol, the person he admired and wanted to meet more than anyone in the world, was some famous classical musican/singer (can't remember who). Well, somehow my professor ended up backstage at a concert featuring this very famous musician. He totally could have introuced himself, spoken to the musician and told him how much he admired him. But he didn't do it -- to the astonishment and bewilderment of everyone in our philosophy class! The professor's reasoning was, "I suddenly realized I had absolutely nothing to offer this person. He meant so much to me, but to him I'd just be a babbling fan wasting his time. The only thing that would come out of our meeting would be me feeling star-struck and satisfied; for the famous musician, he would get nothinng." So he did not approach his idol at all, not even to say hello or get an autograph.

I have always agreed with that take -- such a selfish and greedy thing, for us to approach celebrities -- but also hard to resist. And I'm sure sometimes, Michelle and other celebrities like hearing from their fans and knowing we are out there!

Miss Eggplant

p.s. Even after saying all that, if I ever ran into Michelle on the street I'd probably lose it and run up to her anyway. Also, there are some celebrities you should definitely, definitely approach because you know they'd like it. Tara, for example.

[starrysky]

I am glad to hear she is home for the Holidays. I think in a public setting like that, I would have trouble bothering her too, although I would definitely say hello when walking by. Then again, I have had the honor of meeting her 4 times, and if I never had, knowing how she is my idol, I am not sure how I would handle it. I hope that she was able to get her shopping done, and still managed to make the day of a few lucky fans!

[MKGrace]

That she and her mother retreated to another store is some indication that this may have prevented her from getting done what she wanted and needed to get done.

My friend didn't say anything about Michelle "retreating". She said she and mother were smiling and seemed fine with it all, but I understand what you're saying.

[billob]

This might be a great time to pay a visit to EW ice palace.

[Katty52]

This might be a great time to pay a visit to EW ice palace.

Billob, I that is a good idea. I think I will go to see if I can see her, it's just 1104 miles from here to there. Just joking, I wish I lived there so I could go.

[Beth2000]

Interesting, iceman. As I read this thread I started to think, "Wow, they're just going up there taking turns in photos with her ... ithey're treating her like an object." Of course, that is how our entire culture views celebrities. The moment a celebrity steps within a 50-foot radius, even sensible folk are overcome with the undeniable urge to run over and talk/get a photo/drool. I am no better -- once my best friend and I spent an hour literally chasing a celebrity through an amusement park. It wasn't even someone I liked (some actor; I can't even remember his name now!) but the fact that we recognized him made us crazy. Weird.

I am sure Michelle, being as gracious and kind of understanding as she is, often doesn't mind these run-ins with fans. But even if she did mind and just wanted to get the heck on with her shopping, she would be too classy to let on.

This also reminds me of a story my old college philosophy professor told us one day in class. His hugest idol, the person he admired and wanted to meet more than anyone in the world, was some famous classical musican/singer (can't remember who). Well, somehow my professor ended up backstage at a concert featuring this very famous musician. He totally could have introuced himself, spoken to the musician and told him how much he admired him. But he didn't do it -- to the astonishment and bewilderment of everyone in our philosophy class! The professor's reasoning was, "I suddenly realized I had absolutely nothing to offer this person. He meant so much to me, but to him I'd just be a babbling fan wasting his time. The only thing that would come out of our meeting would be me feeling star-struck and satisfied; for the famous musician, he would get nothinng." So he did not approach his idol at all, not even to say hello or get an autograph.

I have always agreed with that take -- such a selfish and greedy thing, for us to approach celebrities -- but also hard to resist. And I'm sure sometimes, Michelle and other celebrities like hearing from their fans and knowing we are out there!

Miss Eggplant

p.s. Even after saying all that, if I ever ran into Michelle on the street I'd probably lose it and run up to her anyway. Also, there are some celebrities you should definitely, definitely approach because you know they'd like it. Tara, for example.

You know my niece married Justin Timberlake's first cousin and Justin Timberlake was in the wedding and the reception was at his mom's house. We took pictures but, we did it so that we weren't asking him to pose. I was amazed at how I didn't bother him b/c I realized he just wanted to fit in and be left alone.

A lot of times celebrities try so hard to just fit in like us normal people. When I was at my first Nationals I learned if the skater's were in the arena I would ask for their autograph's. If they were outside of the arena I left them alone b/c they were trying hard to fit in.

[iloveskating]

Wow, they're just going up there taking turns in photos with her ... ithey're treating her like an object."

Really, this is true whether the photos are in the mall or at the rink.

It sounds like Michelle rather enjoyed it, as she has always oved her fans. I'm sure it's great feeling for her that fans still adore her, even though she hasn't competed in almost 3 years.

I hope that means she'll pop in here and say HI soon!

[Lisa Seye]

I just watched a fluff piece in which Michelle was talking about how she is honored to be known and to have people want to talk to her etc (even if it is overwhelming sometimes). She talked about how people treasure that piece of paper she just autographed and how it is only seconds out of her time, but is so special to them. I think the fluff piece was in the 98-99 season.
I was so touched at her words and how she said she felt honored by this.

She is such a great role model. So much better than the current debs of the day like Brittany and her ilk.

[eventerbess]

Approaching people in a public place is sort of a common sense thing. Usually you can tell if it is a good or bad time. Almost every celebrity I have ever approached has been gracious. I avoid bothering them if they are eating or obviously busy. The times I have been around Michelle when she is posing for pictures etc, she has seemed to be enjoying it.
I have a friend who's sister is close friends with the wife of a soap opera star. The sister was in a wedding as was the star, Steve Burton. My friend knew I was a fan of General Hospital, also that I was at a bad place in my life. She asked him for an autograph, he gave her a signed head shot with a gracious note. Sometimes people like to help other people.

[MKGrace]

This might be a great time to pay a visit to EW ice palace.

I thought about that. I may take a drive out there next week.

BTW after reading some of the comments here I double checked with my friend about the pictures, and she said Michelle and Estelle were smiling the whole time, and and the whole incident only lasted a few minutes.

[michellesmom]

The professor's reasoning was, "I suddenly realized I had absolutely nothing to offer this person. He meant so much to me, but to him I'd just be a babbling fan wasting his time. The only thing that would come out of our meeting would be me feeling star-struck and satisfied; for the famous musician, he would get nothinng."

I can't even begin to express how much I disagree with that. Telling someone, celebrity or not, how much they mean to you is NEVER a waste of time.

[eventerbess]

What most of us have to offer a "celebrity" or a person who is great at what they do is a thank you. Thank you for the memory, the inspiration. Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard of Star Trek) once told me - actors really want to be appreciated for the work they have done, and to know that work is appreciated.
Now would be a great time for someone to link THE kirk wessler article about watiching michelle skate. And maybe for the kirk wessler fans to let HIM know we appreciate his work. (I don't know how to do the link, sorry)