I haven't had time to read the plaque yet - but the shadow box with the velvet rope contains a swarth of cigarette-burned carpet and of course the velvet rope from none other than Grauman's Chinese Theater. They were swiped from a garbage bin behind the theater by my friend Peter (btw,
here's his photos of the shindig) right after the first 6-week camp-out, line-up in Hollywood for the Star Wars prequels.
I had been a veteran of the original trilogy's line-ups in Hollywood, and joined this new group of fun kids for the next generation's follow-ups. Little did I know then that I'd be making more lifelong friends. But '99 was followed by 2002, and then 2005, and then our friendships continued to this day.
So Peter has hoarded this stuff in his garage, hoping some day to frame it for a special occasion. Wow!
I was so touched by this elegant and unusual momento of great times and the beginnings of wonderful friendships. The whole gang of them got together for the much more expensive part of framing the wonderful items ... and it was easily the best group gift of the night (ok, the
only group gift of the night), and truly one of the most magnificent birthday gifts I have ever received.
