The Indianapolis Flower and Patio Show offers so many wonderful sites and sounds. It is a cornucopia for every garden enthusiast. There is even more to see if you have an interest in waterless cooking, gutter guards, roasted almonds and floor shammies. But my interest goes beyond tulip bulbs, caramel corn and forsythia bushes. I’m there for the celebrity.
Last year I met the inventor of the Gecko Toes. She was a retired 2nd grade school teacher who was tired of teaching and tired of picking up her kinked garden hose. So she gave up the classroom and invented a device to hold her hose. Now she goes from garden show to home show, hawking her wears. I asked her to sign her business card. “Curt, keep ’em hanging straight.” She was a classy lady.
This year, I met a true Indianapolis legend, Rupert Boneham. I stood in line for about 20 minutes while I waited for him to speak to each person before me. He was in no hurry, and answered every question except whether he is the winner of this season’s Survivor. To that question he would only respond, “I sure hope so!” Despite his fame, he took time to sign pictures and books for each person. He posed for pictures and made small talk as long as his guest desired.
When it was my turn, the gentle giant shook my hand, listened to stories about my children and offered signatures for my son and myself. When it came time for pictures, he wrapped his arm around me and gave me another strong hand shake. It was a highlight of my life-long celebrity search.
The only thing that would have topped it was a visit with the world’s tallest woman at the exhibit stage. But a guy can only do so many amazing things in one day.
