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In my relatively short 38 years on this planet, I have not had many encounters with "famous" people.  I do not hold it as a very high priority to do so either, however, I did have the pleasure of "meeting" Warren Buffett a few years back.  I was living in Omaha at the time and my wife was working at Borsheims Jewelry Company, as their training manager.  It was their holiday party and Warren was presenting an award to Susan Jacques, who is the President and CEO of Borsheims.  The seat right next to me at the dinner table was empty and after Warren said a few words about Susan, he sat down next to me in the empty seat to listen to Susan address the entire company. 

As luck would have it, Warren approached the empty seat next to me and asked, "is anyone was sitting here"?  I of course said "no" and was thrilled he was going to sit next to me!  Oh, and in case you missed it, that was conversation numeral uno.  Unfortunately, as soon as he sat down next to me another party at the same table hammered Warren with about 50 questions as rapid fire as she could spit them out.  Warren clearly wanted to listen to the presentation Susan was giving and the very polite "brush off" of the lady talking his ear off, was not working. 

At this point, one of the staff helping clean up the dinner plates tapped Mr. Buffett and asked him to hand her a plate.  Now the rich should do regular tasks just like anyone else in life, but I would have thought the wait staff would have asked me or someone else besides one of the richest men in the world, to help reach across a table to pick up a plate.  I am guessing she did not know who he was, but Warren completed his task and continued to try and listen to the presentation through the machine gun fire of questions being thrown his way. 

At this point something funny was said by Susan Jacques, and it created a nice break in the action.  I have no idea what she said because I was just sitting there thinking I was sitting next to Warren Buffett!  I was actually trying to think of something cleaver to say, but I could tell he was getting enough attention from another party at the table.  Now during this lighter moment, Warren actually turned to me and said something.  I could not hear the question clearly through the laughter, but I think it was something about Susan being a funny lady.  I had to say something back to him even though I was not sure of the question, so I smiled and replied "yes she is".  That is sheer brilliance and nothing short of it.  Warren seemed to acknowledge my answer with a smile back at me.  Now he could have been thinking what the heck is this clown talking about, but I will look at the glass half full here.  In case you missed it, that was conversation numeral dos. 

The conversation perhaps could have continued but another round of mortar fire was approaching and Mr. Buffett was ready to pull the troops out.  He, with a smile and the presentation by Mrs. Jacques still going on, stood up and said "thank you".  I told him "you're welcome" as he retreated to the back of the room and quickly left after the presentation was over.  That is in fact conversation numeral tres.  I wish I had enough conversation with him to make it to cinco in honor of Cinco de Mayo, but my time was cut short by the barrage of questions hurled at the poor man.