In the arms of David Schwimmer

In the arms of David Schwimmer

How many of us can say that on Valentine’s Day, they were in David Schwimmer’s arms? I can. Our encounter was very brief, only a few moments, but I was in his arms.

I was working for Warner Brothers at the time and the news of David Schwimmer’s visit to our office, on Valentine’s Day, was supposed to be hush hush, but traveled among the staff like wildfire.

Suddenly office cubicles were spruced up and on the day of the planned visit the ladies showed up as if they were expected at a red carpet event. Their hair was done, they wore a stunning outfit and those who usually wore comfortable footwear had crammed their feet in elegant shoes. They wore make-up; they wore jewelry and seemed to have taken a bath in perfume.
Whenever the reception door opened, heads turned.

But David Schwimmer kept everyone waiting, and the later it got in the afternoon, the more hopes dwindled that the star was not going to show up. It had happened before, other celebrities were expected at the office from time to time, but very seldom did such a visit actually take place.

Me? I got caught up in the excitement too but hadn’t gone to any great lengths with my appearance. I had washed my hair and wore stylish slacks and a nice top, but no more than that. If anything, as the day went by, my appearance somewhat suffered. My top was half out of my slacks, my make-up was not as fresh anymore as it had been in the morning, and I had pulled my hair in a ponytail.

Shortly after four o’clock, my boss handed me a package that had to be couriered that day.

“I think it might be too late for that,” I told her. “The courier deadline is at four o’clock.”
“Try anyway,” she pleaded. “Hurry, run and see if they will still accept it.”

So I did. I scooped up the package and set off to the reception area. In a mad rush, I flung the door wide open and mid-sprint bumped into … David Schwimmer!

My face was buried his shirt, my arms were around his chest and his were around my shoulders. I was stunned and speechless. If he had asked me for my name, I would have gotten no further than “Euh.”

I recognized him immediately of course, but he was so different than I knew him as Dr. Ross Geller on the TV series ‘Friends’. For one he was much taller than I had assumed and a lot — and I do mean a lot — better looking. He wore black slacks, a lime green shirt and his hair was not full of gel.

He wasn’t a bit upset about our accidental encounter. He merely smiled down on me and said ‘Easy there.”

I watched him disappear and remained frozen on the spot. Only when the receptionist asked “Can I help you?” did I come out of my dazed state. Could Lori help me? I didn’t know. Why was I there? I must have come to reception with a purpose. The package right, the package! Oh who cared about some stupid package when I had been in David Schwimmer's’ arms on Valentine’s Day!