Monday, June 9, 2008

People let me tell ya 'bout my best friend...

Are y'all humming the theme to Rob & Big now? Good. Mission accomplished.



Today my separated-at-birth sister, Heather, posted about her love of a certain famous southern personality who happens to be the greatest cook this side of Heaven. Reading of her affection for this bright shining star was no surprise to me, because as I just said...Heather and I (and Mrs. R.--can't leave her out) were quite obviously born of the same woman and then cruelly ripped from this precious being's arms and given over to the fine women we now call "mother." We will be reunited one day. And it will feel so good. (Thank you, Peaches and Herb.)



But I harbor a secret that only very few know. Those in my small, inner circle are aware of this secret. (Vicki--feel the love, my friend!) It has to do with a very famous southerner who has several shows on Food Network. She counts butter, mayonnaise and cream cheese as her three favorite ingredients. (She is dead correct on this matter, too.) She has two sons who are easy on the eyes and also enormous Georgia Bulldog fans, thereby making them extremely brilliant in my opinion. I own all her cookbooks, some of her merchandise, and subscribe to her magazine. Martha and Rachael are mere wannabes. The Real Big Deal is the particular lady I'm referring to.



I know there's zero need for an introduction, but for you Yankees (bless your hearts) and Under-a-Rock Dwellers, I'll spell it out for you. Delicious goodness, thy name is Paula Deen.



Lemme tell y'all all about my relationship with the one and only Paula. But first, a preface...



In my 33.5 year existence I have had a few brushes with fame. At the age of 18, while in New York City, I stood thisclose to Flava Flav in Planet Hollywood. He was drunk. He stunk. I was unimpressed. Not too long after this experience I met Steven Curtis Chapman backstage after a concert. He signed an autograph, posed for a picture with me and my best friend, and I decided then and there that Mr. Chapman was way more impressive than some clock-wearing rapper from Public Enemy in need of some serious Sure. Please don't raise your hand, Mr. Flav--'cause you ain't Sure.



When I was 23 and dining at the Olive Garden in Macon, Georgia, a beautiful woman walked by and my father exclaimed, "Hey--that's Trisha Yearwood." Well, of course it was--she's from a little town not far from my neck of the woods. So what did I do? Being all fangirl I marched right up to her table and said, "HEYILOVEYOU!" She was gracious and surprisingly talkative, two words sometimes used to describe me! (Talkative more than gracious, of course.) She asked my name, introduced me to her then-husband and the rest of her family and told me they'd been watching Georgia football all day. She had on the UGA sweatshirt to prove it. Now I was a big fan of hers before this, but seeing her in person and with a Bulldog sweatshirt on? How I didn't faint is beyond me. And thank God she didn't catch me wiping drool on my sleeve. I LOVE TRISHA FOREVER. Plus, "Perfect Love" is one song I want to live in, all comfy-cozy and tucked in tight. Good, good stuff. I love you, husband of mine.



For your listening pleasure, if you can bear to pause in this suspenseful tale.



I've posted before about my late, famous cousin, Paul Davis. Yes, the Raley genes run deep and wide, and I'm convinced one of my girls will inherit Paul's gift of song and/or songwriting and become the next Alison Krauss. Or not. Either way it's OK. But I'm sad he won't be singing at Libbey and Mrs. R's son's wedding. Sigh...RIP.



Here's Paul's biggest hit. Still rocks. In a mellow kind of way.



Moving on...see? Talkative. Or verbose, as an unnamed friend recently outed me. I happen to love you, unnamed friend who lives in Georgia and knows me from way back when.



These brushes with fame (family members notwithstanding) have been little highlights of my life. Yet none compare to the story of how I met my close, personal friend, Paula Deen.

On August 1 of last year, Scott and I were in the Atlanta airport waiting on a connecting flight to Austin, where we go each year for a boring medical convention. We always make a stop at the airport's Budweiser Brew Pub because they have really cheap appetizers. We fill up before boarding the flight and receiving the obligatory bottle of room temperature Dasani and Eagle Brand Pretzels. YUM--flight fuel!



There we are, noshing away on whatever grease was being fried up at that time and in walks Paula Deen and her husband, Michael. They sit RIGHT NEXT to us. Here's the play-by-play recap of what followed:



Lula: SCOTTY! That's PAULA DEEN. PAULA DEEN! OHMYHEAD, should we say something? OHMYHEAD they are RIGHT THERE. Get her attention...I HAVE GOT TO CALL MAMA, LIBBEY, ROBBIE AND THAT GIRL I ROOMED WITH AT 4-H CAMP IN 6th GRADE! (Yes, I was squealing...but in a whisper.)



Scotty: Stop. Kicking. Me.



Lula: What should we do? OHMYHEAD. I'VE GOT TO CALL MAMA.



Scotty: Stop. Hitting. Me.



Because he loves me so, or because he was fearful of being all black and blue for his big speech at the boring medical convention, Scotty leans over and asks, "Mrs. Paula? I'm sorry to bother you, but my wife and little girl are big fans of yours."

And the our world is rocked because she and her husband are all, "Visit with us, why don't y'all?"

Um, OK. And can we fawn and stutter and babble and dissolve into a huge gooey mess because we worship and adore all that is holy within you?



First things first: Since I'm introducing my close, personal friend to you fabulous readers, I'll share the pertinents. Yes, her eyes are really that blue in person, yes, she had some serious rocks on her fingers, yes, her accent is really that thick and yes, she smokes like a freight train. I so love her realness. And I so love her for telling me that I "still sound like Georgia." Praise be to God.



She asks me about Libbey, because that's what close, personal friends do when they visit, ya know? I tell her every time we're in Walmart, Libbey points her out on those overhead TV monitors. Mrs. Paula goes, "You know, you are the second person this week to mention I'm on in Walmart. Michael--did you hear this? I'm in Walmart, baby!" She asks our names and where we're from. Of course Scotty is all polite and professional and replies, "We're Scott & Leigh Anne Litton, from southwest Virginia." Faster than a speeding bullet I interject, "BUT I'M FROM GEORGIA!" Because, you know...common ground...she's my kinsman and all. Or kinswoman. Whatever.



We had stopped our eating and drinking by this point because really, who wants to eat airport food in front of THE Paula Deen? But the waitress brings Mrs. Paula and Captain Michael plates full of chili cheese dogs, mozzarella sticks and cheddar fries. I tell her, "The world would love to know that Paula Deen eats like this." Her reply was tremendous: "Honey, I crave this grease and get it every time we're at this airport! This is the highlight of my trip, darlin'." She is a soul sister. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.



By this time other people (hangers on--sigh--so annoying) in the Brew Pub are starting to figure out that Someone Special is gracing their presence. Autograph requests commence and Scotty and I continue talking with Capt. Michael. He had an iPhone (still the new, hot commodity at that time) and when Scotty (my techno-gadget-geek husband...did I mention the boring medical convention we were heading to was for electronic medical records? I rest my case.) inquired about it, Capt. Michael proceeds to not only show Scotty how it works, but also gave him a peek at his very long list of contacts. I attempted a surreptitious glance, but didn't see Emeril or Giada DeLaurentis' names.



Toward the end of our visit with our new best friends forever, I ask Mrs. Paula if they are returning home to Savannah. She tells us yes, and that they'd been in D.C. to be interviewed by Larry King. She asks us if we've ever been to our nation's capital and we confirm. Then she shocks us by asking, "But do y'all like it there? I was really underwhelmed. Weren't you, Michael?" We all laugh and Scotty mentions that we have to get ready to head to our departure gate. Capt. Michael asks where we're heading and Scotty tells him, "A boring medical convention in Austin." And this is where Scotty falls in love with Mrs. Paula:



"Please tell me you are a plastic surgeon! I am in need of help, don't you think?"



Scotty picks himself up off the floor (with no help from me because I'm involved in my own conversation with Capt. Michael about how he's lusting for an eye lift) and tells her, "First of all, I'm a family physician, and second of all, you do not need any work done, Mrs. Paula." She gets all gushy over this and I begin to wonder if the Queen of Southern Cooking is going to run off with the Hottest Nerdy Doctor in the World. OK, Paula...I love you, but no making eyes at my man, please.



Scotty asks her if she'd mind signing an autograph for Libbey, which she graciously does...and I turn to her adorable husband and say, "Libbey would love to have yours, too!" And this is where Capt. Michael falls in love with me, 'cause he's all, "Awwww, yeah--it ain't just the wife getting the fame lovin' here." She signs, "Libbey--Best Dishes! Love, Paula!" He draws a little picture of a face with a hat and "Captain Michael." Adorable.



Finally, Scotty asks if he can take a picture with his cell phone and Mrs. Paula says, "Come over here, Leigh Anne...(sigh... she said my name...). You get between me and Michael. You can be the cheese in the sandwich!" I obliged, quite happily. And because I love my readers, I will now share this bit of wondrous love with y'all, previously unseen by anyone not in the Roth or Litton lineage:





Check it out. You know Capt. Michael is seriously about to give me some sugar. I'm just sayin'.

And what's with that flat, lifeless hair o' mine? Oh yeah...Atlanta+humidity=the reason my hair is now short. Even though I don't live in Atlanta.

There y'all have it. My brush with fame. The story of my close, personal friend, Paula Deen, as I've now referred to her ever since our intimate encounter. BFFs forever. As far as I'm concerned, at least. The next time you see her on a magazine cover, or in the movie Elizabethtown (I love you, Cameron Crowe, but Mrs. Paula outshone even Orlando and Kirsten in this mess of a flick!), or whipping up a casserole or pie on one of her shows, you can think to yourselves, "There's Lula's BFF." And you know, six degrees of separation makes y'all her close, personal friend now, too!

Please hold the applause. But do not for one second hold the mayo, butter or cream cheese. That's just sacrilege, y'all.



97 comments:

Debbie said...

It sure looks like Capn Mikey is getting ready to canoodle you. And Paula sure is purdee even on a cell phone...and so are you Miss Lula. And right now in my head I am talkin like you...y'all, drawl and all...Can you hear it?

Tiffany said...

I think this is my favorite post you've written. GIRL, THIS IS SO GOOD. I am laughing out loud by myself. I actually feel like I was there.

Okay, when is your birthday, cause I'm just about 33.5 and I'm thinking there might be something to this whole separated at birth thing... maybe that's why I think I'm southern....

Heather said...

OH MY STARS OH MY STARS OH MY STARS. I CAN'T QUIT SCREAMING AND I WASN'T EVEN THERE!!!!!

I'm seriously breathless right now. Look at that picture!! How is it not framed with candles and incense around it? Look at how adorable Capt. Mike is. Look at how warm and friendly Paula is. She's saying that she wants to adopt me with her eyes. I can see it. You can see it too. She may be your BFF, but she's my future mother.

Now I'm just being creepy.

I'll move on, but don't think for a minute I'm not coming back here to stare at this picture every hour or so.

Anonymous said...

Woah, her eyes are huge! I meaning that in a totally good way. That's a great photo of y'all! I believe I would have just sat and stared at her leading her to call the "mall cops" on me.

Sheesh, the only famous person that I've seen in an airport, that I can remember right now, is Sherman Helmsley, or whatever his name is. You know, Mr. Jefferson.

Gina said...

Wow, you're almost famous yourself! I'm moving back to Georgia.

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Lula...you can surely spin a yarn :-)

Love your story...and that picture! I think I am going to have to get a Paula Deen fix sometime today. I'll be at the Atlanta airport on Saturday...wonder who I'll see? I've seen my fair share of the famous there...

Hillari said...

Even as a Yankee (with some Southern roots) I can totally appreciate some Paula lovin. My how I love her too! I could just watch her shows all day! Delicious...charming...adorable... One of my favorites is that she deep fries her bacon! Fabulous! I just wanna hug her whenever I see her! Thanks so much for sharing your story of your BFF with the rest of us...I feel blessed.

Unknown said...

Yes, I do love me some Paula Deen and her wonderful food. She is my hero! I love to use her recipes, but it definitely isn't good for my diet, so don't tell Scotty! ha!

KimmyJ said...

Awesome post! I loved every scrumptious minute of it. And yes, you may or may not be her BFF and Heather may or may not be her adopted daughter...but I want y'all both to know I AM the future Paula Deene....where's that plastic surgeon??

Trish said...

You are sooo cool!!
I don't think that I have ever met a single celebrity.........but i did stand outside a building in NYC gawking people getting their picture taken with Rudolph Guiliani and he was just standing there being such a good sport about it. I was impressed. Then someone told me I was standing outside Madam Tussauds.
Oh and if it merits any favor with you, my 8yr old LOVES Paula Deen, she is right up there with zac Afron and the Jonas Bros. on his list of favorite celebs. And he is working on perfecting an imitation of her........c'mon, you know you can love him as much as Mrs. R's littel guy.

scargosun said...

That is SO cool! I love that story and am so glad she is a down to earth person. I had a feeling though. I think it comes through on the TV. :)

Insane Mama said...

I love your story... you are so funny!
I don't know Paula, but I'm going to look her up RIGHTNOW!

Sarah P. said...

okay, as normal I LOVE to read your posts...you are GREAT!!!! I want to travel with you. AND, if you could call your BFF Miss Paula and her hubby Capt. Mike...because if he is still wanting an eye lift I could introduce him to Arbonne!! okay...now 'I'm just sayin' (please love me, don't hate me, for saying that...I just love you!)

TentCamper said...

Love your post, Love Geogia & .... you seem like quite the catch.
Great story. I have only met one famous chef (Emeril) He was actually a pompus ass.

But after living in LA for the last14 years.... I just cringe when I see celebs.

Karin @ 6ByHisDesign said...

oh you are a hoot. love your story telling...I read about the fungi in the basement a while back. Saw your name on the SITS list and had to make a visit.

blessings - thanks for the funny.
~Karin

AFRo said...

Now THAT is a story.

Jennifer P. said...

I am clapping here! What a fun story! Totally better than the one where I sat next to Hollywood Square's own Bruce Valanch at the Las Vegas airport. He kept tying knots in a straw and answering texts on his pink phone. I didn't ask for a photo. Or an autograph :)....

Marie Reed said...

I saw that 'learn french' is on your sidebar:) Yeah! I live in the land of wine and stinky cheese. J'aime bien le blog!

swilek said...

I'm a celebrity "stalker" myself and am excited to read about your encounters...hey...i have you on my bloglines as another blog so was wondering why i hadn't been getting updates... i will add you now!!!

Unknown said...

I love love love Paula too, I met her myself when she came to Arkansas for a book signing! It was awesome, pictures gabbing and a picture with the love of my life (yes i am hot for him) Michael LOL. What a fun time and great blog!

Jen said...

how super cool is that! good for you. nice blog to by the way.

Finding Normal said...

Love Paula! The 3 year old just screamed, "Paula Deen, my girlfriend!" when I got down to the picture!

My closest brush with fame was sitting right next to Oprah's BFF Bob Green on a flight from MN to CA. He was working on a book, which I read over his shoulder. I did not drool or ask him about Oprah or exercise, despite my strongest desire.

Kimba said...

I'm not a celebrity stalker, in general. But I would probably fall all over myself to meet Paula. Love her! Love her! Love her!

Love your blog too. You're one funny gal!

andrea said...

i love paula!!
great encouter - hilarious!!

Angie's Spot said...

I'm visiting from SITS and first, I'm so excited to see that 1 other person on this planet knows about Rob & Big! And second, I worship Paula too! I'm so glad to have found your blog and I'll definitely be back!

Caroline said...

WOW! How great! I would Lo-o-ve to meet Paula. I think she is so entertaining and her food looks sooooo yummy! Great post!

Connie said...

I have newly discovered Paula ... I know ~ the shame! ~ but I first needed to accept I will not be a size 4 again ... ever. I am running to the guide to see what time she is on etc ....
Thanks!

Kristi said...

I love Paula Dean - and her recipes are fantastic. I frequently use her meatloaf and fried green tomatoes recipes!

Kristi said...
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Kristi said...
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Kristi said...
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Sheri said...

Southwest VA? That's where I am. But, I loved your story! Added you to my list . . . can't wait to catch up on your writing!

Sunshine said...

You are getting added to my blog list right now, little missy!

And Paula Dean???! You had me at Paula Dean! I LOOOOVE HER! I do, I do! I do love that she chain smokes too. That's real. Momma loves me some real. I love how she's always got food all over her face and she licks her fingers when she's cooking and is always..."Mmmmmmm...". She enjoys. She's my kind of people!

Anyway...I really enjoyed that. I did. I did. *Y'all* are so lucky!

And P.S. our last base was D.C.--*hated it*.

Sunshine said...

P.S. Saw ya on SITS, girl! Happy feature day!

Unknown said...

Ooooohhh .. Paula Deen, I'm now officially jealous!!

Timalee said...

That is some serious storytellin', I am sooo jealous! My closest brush with fame what touching Toby Keith's foot at a rodeo. Great bloggin' Over from SITS

Anonymous said...

I love this story! I used to live in Savannah and I got to talk to Paula Deen twice (!) at her restaurant (a few years ago, before she was this crazy famous!). She really is so, so nice!

Tracy P. said...

I feel like I've just visited my GA inlaws, whom I adore. TOO funny!! Fat really does=flavor, doesn't it?

Sydney said...

What a great story! I love it when people take their time telling stories!

Anonymous said...

Congratz on being today's featured blogger on SITS!
I love Paula too, I could listen to her talk all day and her peanut butter & jam bars are to DIE for ;)

Mitch said...

I'm so jealous! Paula sounds like a great best friend!

Pinky Roth said...

Wow, you are famous now! I love some Paula Deen cooking for sure. Her food is so delicious and we need to go to Lady and Sons the next time you come to visit! Some super wonderful dishes there for sure.

Mom

Debz said...

I am soooo jealous... That has to be the coolest encounter I have ever heard. I ran into Pauly Shore once - literally.ran.into.him.
At a candle store here where I live in MB,SC. I was all like OMG! and he was all like get outta my way (not really - he was nice). But that's not nearly as cool as meeting Paula and Michael. Truly jealous.

Now if I could only get that stupid Rob & Big song outta my head - damn you woman!

Amanda Jo said...

Love it! You ARE a great story teller...and very witty! I have to admit that I am a little (a lot) jealous!

~Another SITS sister - Amanda

Gretchen said...

From one southern girl to another ... you looked darlin' with your new friends, Paula and Micheal!

Anonymous said...

How sweet are they?!? I totally want her to be my southern auntie, so I can go visit her in Savannah and laugh at all her stories. You know the girl has got to have some good stories!

I loved your story! Very well done! :)

Melissa said...

Alright, I don't mean to brag, but I met Wilford Brimley at the airport! Okay, I didn't meet him, but I stood near him at baggage claim!
I wish it had been Guy from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, though. He's a man after my own heart! Smooch!

Melissa said...

PS....Did you see the episode of Rob and Big where Rob bought Big a fat man's toilet? That's good stuff right der'!

Judy Schwartz Haley | CoffeeJitters.Net said...

ooo I love Paula

Sherri said...

WOW!!! that is so cool!!

Rose of Sharon said...

That's so awesome! It is so refreshing to hear that a celebrity is nice and normal!!! How great!

:0) Sharon

Maddness of Me said...

Oh how cute. It looks like she was being so friendly too (which is what I would expect).

My brush with fame is Sarah Jessica Parker. She shook my hand (and I haven't washed it since) and actually said "my friend" to me.

"Well my friend, you will love the fall line then"....

big sigh.

angela | the painted house said...

She sounds like the real deal! Airport food and all!

angela | the painted house said...

Oh, and I'm married to a nerdy doctor type, too.

Simply Stork said...

oh my word...did you hear her before you saw her? how exciting!!! thank you so much for telling us this story...what a great writer you are...I felt like I was right there with you :o)

how cool is that??? She sounds like such a neat lady.

~simply~

Apple Joos said...

I'm wading through the sea of comments (Yay for SITS!) to tell you that this is awesome. I'd have that picture blown up, framed and hanging in my living room. Paula just looks adorable!! I'm not sure how many people not from Savannah know this, but Cap'n Michael makes his own coffee! We bought some once that was caramel and pecan flavored. It was heaven in a mug. I'm so glad they were so nice to you. I wonder if they would have been offended if you DIDN'T know who they were. Like if you said "Excuse me, ma'am. Could you pass me some napkins like I have no clue that you're super duper famous." The closest I ever came to a famous person was meeting Bob Golic before he was on Saved by the Bell, College years. He was playing football for the Cleveland Browns and when we saw him, he had a huge bruise on his forehead. My dad, ever eloquent, walked up to him and said "Hey, Bob, you been playin' without a helmet?" I know. We're smooth.

Rhea said...

How nice ot meet such a down to earth, NICE celebrity!!! Sounds like she was just so sweet, and I love the picture of the three of you.

I'm from Austin! I lived there for 19 years and just moved away to the Dallas area. I miss Austin!!!

Melissa Lester said...

How exciting! I feel a connection to her after living in Elizabethtown, Ky. Sadly, we moved before the movie ws filmed there. But I love Paula! She is the lovable aunt all of us wish we had!

Summer said...

Wow, very cool.

MomMega: mothersmilkblog.com said...

Lucky! I swear I gain five pounds just watching her show!

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

okay, this is hysterical. I know so many women who would have responded the same way. Paula is great!

Acrimony said...

Ok I hate you now. I have that stupid song going through my head. :P

Paula Dean makes my arteries hurt just thinking about her. ;)

Anonymous said...

Isn't it nice when you meet a celebrity and they are nice and sweet and everything you hoped they would be? Great story!

katylinvw said...

this is too much fun! did you exchange digits and chat it up all the time from then on? lol!

John Deere Mom said...

I had butterflies just reading that! When you saw it was her on the plane...I got all sweaty and nervous! Great story!

Nichole said...

isn't it funny how we love to be connected to people who are all normal except they worked their guts out to get famous (usually)~what a treat!

Alison said...

What a great story. How nice to meet someone famous who deserves her fame.

Marla said...

love this story! my first famous sighting in LA was Ed McMann (ran over him with my luggage cart) they 6 months later Matt Dillion. I couldn't get my tongue off the ground he was so hot in person!

Tami said...

What a great story!! At least, you actually got words out of your mouth - the few times I've met someone famous, I can't say anything. One time my brother had to ask for the photo op cuz I couldn't get it out of my mouth!

Love it :)

Tami said...
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KatBouska said...

Too bad you couldn't get her to come over and share some of her home cookin'!!

Being Honest said...

OK. So, I'm SUPER jealous and happy for you at the same time...is that possible???


http://prettypaperbook.com/blog

Kristen said...

LOVE HER!!! You lucky girl for meeting her!! (Hello via SITS BTW!)

Laural Out Loud said...

Paula Deen is the Queen of celebrity. Love her! And your story was so much fun to read I didn't want it to end!

-Bridget said...

A Maconite? It isn't often I come across one in the blogshpere. I spent 12 years living in Macon and have been to the "Trisha Yearwood" Olive Garden many times. I now live in Atlanta and have come across many a celebrity passing through Hartsfield; Paula Dean being one of them. Only I was never brave enough to go talk to the celebrities. I only oggled them from afar. That doesn't make for a very exciting story.

Merrie said...

Stop. Hitting. Me.
I love it!! lol
I confess I didn't know who Paula Deen was until Amy Grant was her guest last Christmas. But I fell in love with her accent and have enjoyed her show a few times since. Great story!

Gina said...

How exciting for you!!!!!!

Tausha said...

So-I am pretty sure since you and I have been in corespondance for a little over a week now, I am not included in the first little paragraph that I am sure pertains to everyone else. :)
I am a Paula Lover myslef. I have never traveled to Georiga or anywhere in the sourthern region ever, but I like to think that everyone talks like her and you and are all kind like Miss Paula, oh and they all love creamy condiments. I also always assumed that southern women cook better than any one else! How excting for you and your hubby. I am sure that he didn't appreciate the experince as much as you did-but whatever.
Its good to know that she is as kind in real person, as she is on tv-maybe even more nice!
I am jealous, the only "star" I would really love to meet that wouldn't ruin my image of them is Tim and Faith. I have heard from close acquaintance who have met them, that they really are as nice as they seem! I could on forever-but I wont. Just know you you save a friend who is jealous of you bff!

Nancy Hood said...

Girl, that is so totally cool!!!!

WheresMyAngels said...

So I guess I need to Google her since I have no idea whom she is......Jimmy Deans wife maybe?

Michelle said...

OMG, I am soooo totally jealous of you! That is so cool and so lovely and so lucky!

I love knowing that her eyes really are that blue and how she eats. And that she's so sweet! Awwww.

Yep, SITS Girl.

Maternal Mirth said...

OhmyGodOhmyGodOhmyGod! Her accent is the bestest accent ever!!! (well, aside from the Lucky Charms leprechan guy)

Was it like sitting in a tub maple syrup and warm butter when she talked RIGHT.NEXT.TO.YOU???

I bet it was ...

my2boyz said...

So flippin cool!!! I would have peed my pants with excitement!

Julie Northrop said...

Lulu - you're a hoot! You can't help but adore Mrs. Paula Dean! I love her zest for life and going it her own way. What an awesome experience to add to your scrapbook of memories! :)

Anonymous said...

Visiting via SITS- I am soooo jealous! I love Mrs. Paula and felt like I was right there with you reading your post! So much fun!

Mercedes said...

I love famous encounter stories like that!

Nicole said...

How could ya now love Paula? Wow, she really does have beautiful eyes, and her husband looks like a big teddy bear (he probobly wouldn't appreciate that) You are so funny, makes me wish I was southern! My closest brush with someone famous was bagging groceries for Marie Osmond, I was to awe struck to even say anything, she opened up her peanut brittle and ate it right there in line, a woman after my own heart!

Chandra said...

First time visiting your site. When I read your post I hear a 33.5 year old Paula Dean in my head, ya'll!

Kathi Roach said...

This is a great story. I've seen you in links and comments on tons of blogs..was scrolling through the SITS blog and stopped at your page.

Jacie said...

You are makin' me so homesick. I miss Georgia so much right now.

Natalia said...

Oh my gosh! That is so awesome! Congrats! Her eyes are incredible even in that photo :).

Anonymous said...

Oh so awesome! She seems so nice and REAL! How fun!

Claremont First Ward said...

Oh my. How have I not read this yet. It's a favorite for sure. The meeting was delicious. Now, I'm going to go tell my whole family.

Geezees Custom Canvas Art said...

Love this post....and love Paula Dean!

Mel at Adventures of Mel said...

You are so lucky! I love Paula Deen!

Jenn Erickson said...

Wow! Too cool! It's always so refreshing to hear stories about celebrity encounters where they are as nice, or even nicer than their on-screen personas. I used to work in the TV industry and can tell you that 9 times out of 10, that is not the case. I love Paula on-screen, and am thrilled to know that she is the genuine article!

Anonymous said...

LOL! Yr a great writer. I enjoy reading your blog. :)