TCMFF 2019 - The time Jeff Goldblum blew kisses at us

Near the beginning of the year, Turner Classic Movies announced that they would have Jeff Goldblum on a panel for the showing of Nashville. I guess you could say I lost my mind. I have been a Jeff Goldblum faithful for years since I was a kid. I can honestly say that I loved him before it was cool. I bet I watched Independence Day one-hundred times after it came out on VHS. Waiting for that tape to rewind was absolute torture for a 12-year-old girl. I didn't care about anyone else in that movie except Goldblum; he was it for me. In the end, when he gets off the UFO after saving the world and his ex-wife runs up to him and jumps-SWOON. I thought that was the height of romance.

Flash forward twenty-four years to 'Jeff Goldblum Day.' I knew that Saturday, April 13, 2019, would be one of the most incredible days of my life. I was right.

I had spoken to my fellow Jeff Goldblum lover and all-around amazing lady, Diana, about waiting in line together. We both knew we would be the first people in line. I had gone as far as buying a stool to sit on as I waited. I decided to forego any other films that day, including Double Wedding with William Powell and Myrna Loy and the All About Nora (Ephron), pannel at Club TCM. We lucked out because we were able to watch the Nora Ephron panel live while we waited in line. That was awesome.

Jeff Goldblum was there to speak about the film, Nashville. The movie started at 6:00 P.M. I hopped in line around noon. I had to wait out other lines for films that showed in that theater before Nashville, but when I finally got the number one (Diana got number two, Brian three, Erin four and Julie five, we were in great company. I was stoked! We were tickled as we waited on the floor in line to finally see the man that some of us had loved since we were kids, and others of us had themed as their Bachelorette Party. The excitement radiated from the line. We tried to make a plan and worried about not getting close enough to the man himself.

After hours of waiting, we finally made it in, and I sprinted to the front row. I know my heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest, and I had butterflies the size of horses in my stomach. I'm a firm believer in never meeting your idols, and I worried that he might not be everything I wanted him to be. I was wrong. He was introduced and glided to his seat exactly how I expected. He was smooth, had all the facial expressions and his outfit was insane. Honestly, I wish I could tell you anything they spoke about, but I was too busy literally, LITERALLY pinching myself. I kept thinking, "remember this, remember how you feel right now. You're just some stupid girl from Nebraska who is finally seeing Jeff Goldblum in the flesh. This is everything you dreamed about and never thought would come true. remember this moment for all it is." I tried to take in everything. I watched Goldblum like it was my job. Anything he said was white noise. I heard nothing but saw everything.

After the panel, the film started, but a few of us decided that we would try to run out to the exit to see if we could catch another glimpse of him. A few years ago, in the same theater, I left after the showing and discussion of, The China Syndrome, and saw Michael Douglas getting into the elevator. I had hoped that I would once again luck out and see Jeff Goldblum leaving on the elevator. I never got that chance because instead of leaving through the elevator, he came right by us and went down the escalator. I always thought I wouldn't be the girl who screams and clutches at her chest when they saw someone like Jeff Goldblum, I was wrong. I hit record on my phone when I saw him coming, and the only sound I heard was myself shrieking. It was so embarrassing, but it was an honest reaction. I heard one of the girls yell, "We love you," so I too yelled, "We love you!" He told us that he loved us also. JEFF GOLDBLUM TOLD US THAT HE LOVED US. We heard the words come out of his mouth as he strolled by. He smelled incredible, and his voice was as smooth as butter. He walked to the escalator and descended, blowing us kisses and waving. We, in turn, blew him kisses and waved. JEFF GOLDBLUM BLEW US KISSES, AND WE BLEW HIM KISSES BACK. What world is this? I never thought I would have an opportunity to see Jeff Goldblum in the flesh, let alone speak to him.

The Turner Classic Film Festival has given me so many opportunities I never thought I would have. I never lived in a world where I would someday stand inches from Alec Baldwin, Jeff Goldblum, or Tippi Hedren. I pinch myself from time to time and remind myself that I am so lucky to be given this opportunity each year. This year was a literal twenty-plus year dream come true.

After we talked to Jeff, we sat and reminisced about how beautiful the whole thing was. I looked at my video and realized that I never actually hit record. I was so giddy I just pointed a camera at him the entire time that never recorded. As we tried to bring ourselves down, someone snuck up behind us and went over to the elevator. It was NORMAL LLOYD! That American Treasure talked to us; he called us lovely and told us to stay out of trouble. Those few minutes where we talked to Jeff Goldblum and Norman Lloyd were absolutely surreal! Never in my life could I have imagined anything more perfect at that moment.

When we calmed down from everything we had experienced, Erin and I decided to go to the Hollywood Roosevelt and see The Bad Seed. Erin is such a wonderful ray of sunshine. If you have Erin in your life, you are happy. This was the first year I met her, and I absolutely fell in love with her and Diana. Having that time with Erin poolside at The Bad Seed after experiencing something so wonderful was like a dream. We later met Diana to grab some dinner at 25 Degrees in the lobby of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. We put our name in and waited to be called. As I turned around to go back to talk to the girls, I ran into Dr. Paul Nassif. I was riding a high and actually dared to ask him for a photo and tell him I was a huge fan. If you know me, you know that I love the Real Housewives Franchise on Bravo. He once starred on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and currently stars on E! 's Botched and Botched By Nature. To have my TCM universe collide with my Bravo universe was almost too much for my little heart to take. The rest of the night was spent chatting with my friends about how incredible our day had been.

It was the most fun I’ve ever had at my four years of TCM Film Festivals.

*This post was written and experienced before I heard any rumors about Mr. Jeff Goldblum that recently surfaced.