Meeting Dan Aykroyd

It was excellent!!! Totally fuckin excellent!!! And, I wasn't the only one who felt it. There was a ripple that ran through the crowd. That is true when anyone famous walks among us. But, Dan Aykroyd has always, I believe, escaped that burden of being super-famous, with the entourages and the outrageous antics that we associate with stars. He is blue-collar, stubbornly normal in the abnormal world of show business. I met him today at Binnys.... It was a signing for his ''Crystal Head Vodka''. Now, I am a vodka drinker and I have had a desire to try Mr. Aykroyd's potion. But, when I saw the price--- north of $80.00 bucks a pop--- I decided to wait it out another time to taste test. However, I always wanted to meet him. He is one of my comedy heroes. A pioneer, with his friends, of ''Saturday Night Live'', and classic film comedies. ''The Blues Brothers'' movie [ and records] remain close to my heart. This movie, like many favorites, I can quote verbatim. There is a favorite scene of mine that every guy I know loves. The brothers are being pulled over for running a red light [ actually, the light was yellow, says Elwood]. While the police are checking Elwood's driving record, Elwood turns to his brother Jake and says, ''I bet those cops have S.C.M.O.D.S.'' Jake asks, ''S.C.M.O.D.S?'' To which Elwood responds, '' State, County, Municipal, Offender, Data, Systems.''... It is a police term that I am not even sure is used anymore, but, back in 1980 it was. For some reason I love this scene, and, I heard Aykroyd once say in an interview that this is his favorite scene in the movie. Any cop that I know loves it when it is quoted to them. A strong believer in authority and police, Dan Aykroyd also loves the criminal underworld with fascination. While never being a criminal himself, he has always cultivated friends in this world. His fascination with cops and their prey led to a running joke about him in the ''SNL'' offices: his ideal fantasy would be to committ a crime and then arrest himself.... So, he was signing his vodka at ''Binnys'' in Arlington Heights. The time for this was scheduled between 5pm to 7pm. Fortunately, I finish work at 3, so, I zipped over from Glen Ellyn to A.H. in record time. I was doing some serious speeding at times, folks [ Elwood would be proud ]. I arrived around 3:30 and found immediate parking. Hauling it into the store-- with a book I wanted Dan to autograph--- I was very pleased to see a line that was not long. There was a zigzag pattern to what the store had lain out. The ''Binnys'' people were very helpful and organized. As I got in line, one of the employees told me I was number 62. I asked when the cutoff would be when they would stop the line and he said around 300. I relaxed. I was safe..... I immediately started to talk to people in line. This is a trait of my Dad's. Make friendly conservation. It also helped that one of the people I was talking to was nice-looking with big breasts. An attractive woman, with alcohol around me, waiting for a comic god. If I had cheeseballs I would consider this moment Heaven. We all made chit-chat. Other people began arriving around us in time. Some came as ''Ghostbusters''. About five guys who dressed as the boys in the movie did. And, they also looked liked forty-something year- old virgins who never kissed a girl. I pointed this out to the big breasted woman in front of me.... The book I was carrying for Dan Aykroyd to sign is called  ''The Best Of Friends'', by David Michaelis. It was published in 1983 and it is a profile of friendships between men. Some of these men are famous, like John Kennedy and Lem Billings. Some are not household names. One such portrait of a deep friendship in the book was between Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. I have written in other blogs about these two and their brotherhood and dedication to each other. The chapter on them in this book is quite wonderful to read. Dan did the interview with the author two months after Belushi's death in 1982. His feelings and emotions were still very raw after losing his soul brother so abruptly. In the profile, he talks about their professional and personal bonding. They were brothers, said Dan. Kindred spirits. Aykroyd summed up his feeling for Belushi by saying, '' I'm not a homo, and neither was John, but, when I saw him come into a room I got the jump you get when you see a beautiful woman. That pit from the stomach feeling. Being with him was electric, really electric.'' The profile-- really for fans of these two-- is heartfelt and strong. The author, Michaelis, captured them so well that when I was wondering what I could bring to have Dan sign this instantly jumped into my mind..... The line was getting big when our guest of honor arrived early at 4:30. He got a well-deserved ovation from us. Dan is sixty now. Long gone is the young, sleek performer. He is now quite chubby. He has been married to the very hot Donna Dixon for many years and has three daughters with her. If I was married to Donna Dixon I would not spend my time working out. I would be home with her trying to make another kid. Anyway, he strolled in and immediately addressed the crowd in the classic Dan Aykroyd machine-gun delivery. He thanked us all for coming out and said we will have some fun. He was wearing shades. Now, I usually do not like it when a performer wears shades for personal appearances. I wanna see your eyes. The whole face. But, somehow, it seemed in character that he was wearing sunglasses. In a way, Elwood Blues was making an appearance also.... The line moved forward at a good speed. Because of the size of the crowd there was only so much time that a person was given. Some bought the vodka. Some, like me, brought other things for him to sign. The deal was that he would sign these items for a fee of ten dollars. Then all the money would be donated to charity. I paid the ten for him to sign my book. And, the line got closer..... My turn came. I gave my phone to a man nearby and asked him if he would take a picture of Dan and me. He said yes. Then I turned to Dan. I said, ''Hello, Mr. Aykroyd, can you sign my book for me?'' He said yes. I handed him the spot in the book that starts the chapter of John and him. There is a picture of John and Dan taken around 1977 on one side. Dan signed his name, and, as he did I asked him if he could write my suggestion. I told him what I wanted and he smiled a big smile. It told me he was in favor of my request. I then sat next to him and the man took our picture. I said to Dan, as I shook his hand a second time, ''Thank you, my friend.'' He replied, ''And, thank you , my friend''. I took my phone and left. I looked at the picture of Dan and me. And, then, dumbfuck that I am, I accidently erased it!!!! I was tempted to go back to get another shot, but, the people had moved on. That is ok. The picture is in my memory forever.... I walked outside and looked at my book and what I had requested that he sign for me.  I smiled because it is so him. Next to the picture of him and his best friend and Blues Brother, he wrote, '' DAN AYKROYD, THEY'VE GOT S.C.M.O.D.S.'''..........