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I was about 18 years old at the time, just a freshman in college and starting to experience what life had to offer. I remember it was a very windy that day, the sky was not its usually serene blue, but a dingy brown. My best friend at the time called me at home and told me she had heard from a friend that one of our favorite rock bands was staying at one of the fancier hotels downtown. Not having anything else to do that day, we figured why not go down there and see if we just might spot them. After all, we had nothing to lose.

We arrived at the hotel and walk around the lobby for a few minutes. I took a seat on one of their comfortable expensive couches and happened to look over the front entrance and spotted the notable Mexican actor, Anthony Quinn. I kicked my friend's leg to get her attention and whispered that it was the man that played the grandfather in "A Walk in the Clouds" (the only movie I could think of at the time that we both had seen).

I remember two older gentlemen who were sitting in the lobby saw us getting giddy over the celebrity and encouraged us to go speak to him. "You will never get a chance like this again," I vividly remember him saying. So my friend and I walk up to Mr. Quinn as he is heading towards the elevator with his young wife and one of his young children. We politely introduce ourselves and tell him we admire all the years of acting he has done and just wanted to opportunity to shake his hand. My friend got his autograph on a sheet of paper we found there at the hotel, and one of the older gentlemen had loaned her a pen.

He thanked us and proceeded towards the elevators. Not wanting a mob of security guards to tackle us out of nowhere, we backed away and let him continue about his business. We were in shock. What odds that just by chance we would meet a legendary actor. We originally went with the intentions to meet a rock band which seemed to silly after meeting someone of such notoriety. I recall going back home and my parents asking me if the band was there or not, and very calmly I said no, but that we met Anthony Quinn. At first they did not believe me, but then were very exciting that I had. About six months later Mr. Quinn passed away, so it made that meeting even more meaningful and unforgettable.

Learn more about this author, Cristy Valley.
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