Celebrities and Walmart

I keep seeing NutriSystem commercials with Marie Osmond bragging about fitting into a costume she wore when she was 18. Everytime the commercial shows her prancing around in said costume, I think, "She really is much smaller when you see her in person."

No, I haven't paid hundreds of dollars to fly to Vegas and see her show. No, I don't have connections to her home teacher in Utah. My story is even better.

I went to Walmart.

In 2009 I did my student teaching in Henderson, NV, a community just outside of Vegas. The apartments they put us in didn't have televisions. I inherited a love of legal shows, comedies, and HGTV from my Dad (okay, maybe the HGTV was all me), so the thought of spending 3 months without it didn't sound pleasant. So, making my father proud, I wanted to buy a TV. I could've gone to Goodwill and get an old, boxy set, and I actually did venture out to thrift stores. Most of them were older than me, and I was living in Vegas! Everything was supposed to be glitzy, flashy, and glamorous, right? I wanted a flat screen.

Walking through the doors of Walmart, I called my dad to strike a bargain. I just knew he'd understand my dilemma. I had enough to split the cost of the flat screen. I wondered if I could sweet talk him into putting up the other half. I wasn't doing the best job of convincing him, sadly, but then she walked by. Flitted by. The air sparkled. Right by a bin of bath towels.

Marie Osmond.

"Dad, I think Marie Osmond just walked by."

Laughter. "No, she didn't, Emily."

"Um, Dad, I'm pretty sure she did."

"No, no, you must be mistaken."

"I'm not! Let me go find out. I'll call you back."

What you must understand is that my dad was head over heels for the singer of Paper Roses. He would be over the moon if this was really her! But, seriously, what was she doing in Walmart?

The TV gods must have been smiling upon me, because I followed Marie or this Marie lookalike to the electronics department. She was alone, dressed in nice clothes, tall heels, and BIG curly hair. Not to mention loads of make-up. Once I confirmed it was her, I called my dad back.

"DAD! IT'S REALLY HER!"

"Okay, if you go talk to her, I'll help with the TV."

"Dad, I can't just go up to her and talk to her. She'd probably hate that." Wouldn't she?

"That's the deal."

Grr.

So, I did. And she was SO NICE! She was happy to take a picture with me! We chatted for a few minutes. I told her I was a student from BYU-Idaho down here student teaching. She told me she was buying videos and games for FHE. (And she did have a large stack of DVDs and video games in her hands. And it was a Monday.) It was such a surreal experience to meet a celebrity in Walmart, but the best part of the story? I got my TV, the same flat screen I'm watching her commercials on today.