To each her own

I recently reunited a friend with Justin Timberlake – or at least Justin Timberlake’s visage painted on a wine glass.

A friend of the friend had purchased matching Justin wine glasses on Etsy for the girls who attended her bachelorette party, and my friend left her own souvenir behind at my house, likely so as to torture me with Justin's intensely creepy stare. I returned it to her at a BBQ.

Justin's seen better days

“Why Justin Timberlake?” I asked. “I would have bought glasses with each person’s favorite celebrity crush.”

That got the table talking. My friend selected Michael B. Jordan from the film, “Creed.” Later, after she had time to think about it, she switched to Tina Fey.

“I think she’d inspire me in drunken moments,” she explained.

Another girl picked Beyoncé (BTW, did you know spellcheck will flag Beyoncé’s name when it’s missing the accent mark over the second “e?” Now that’s celebrity). These selections confused me because I thought we were supposed to pick hot dudes. Even more confusing was the fact my mind kept returning to Cary Grant. But I didn’t announce that. Instead, I silently brooded on selecting a more age-appropriate (not deceased, at least), alternative choice I could share aloud.

Clarity arrived via a co-worker’s text today:

“Celeb sighting at Pompeii,” she texted. “This guy from ‘Mindy Project’ who I happen to think is super-cute.”

She attached a photo of actor Chris Messina in his role as Dr. Danny Castellano.

“No way,” I replied. “Are you kidding me? When?! I love him!”

So Pete and I set out to verify and celebrity stalk. As nonchalantly as possible, I attempted to improve my mid-afternoon, half-asleep appearance, fluffing my frizzy hair and removing my frumpy sweater. And yes, as reported, Messina was standing outside the Italian restaurant. And he was just as dreamy-looking in person as he is on T.V. In fact, he looked like he had just stepped out of a television and onto our ever-so pedestrian sidewalk. He radiated from the background as if embossed. What ever was Dr. Danny doing in sleepy Los Altos?!

Chris Messina

As Pete and I continued our stroll toward Messina, I mentally rehearsed how I would request a group photo, a new Facebook profile image all my female friends would envy! Oh, glorious day! Should I address him as “Mr. Messina?” Or begin with a cliché, “I’m a big fan of your work?” But Messina was on the phone. I settled for locking eyes with him, smiling shyly and reddening all over. I think he may have smiled back.

I didn’t say anything until Pete and I entered the parking lot.

“So, was I taller than him?” I asked.

Pete confirmed I was. At least that was something.

Anyway, the point of this ridiculously sad celebrity-sighting story is to finally report back about my wine glass selection: Girls, I’ll take Chris Messina. Or Cary Grant.