Bill Cheswick's Brushes with greatness

• I've played GPS games with

  Freeman Dyson's

  grandchildren. "How slow can you walk with this GPS unit, and register more than 0 MPH?" He was amused.
• I've been mistaken for

  Elliot Gould

  in airports. Recently someone took my picture as I was stopped at a light in NYC.
• I've spent several hours chatting with

  James Randi

  .
• I've held the door for

  Betty Friedan

  .

• Dr. Ruth

  has told Lorette and me to "try a new position."

• Rob Pik

  e has dreamt about me.
• Was once kissed by the

  Philly Phanatic

  .
• Am a remote cousin of

  Thomas Edison

  . (But he never comes to family picnics.) What percentage of the country is at least a sixth cousin?

• Teller

  taught me the French drop.
• I am credited as a gofer in Labscam.
• I've juggled with

  Penn Jillette

  .
• I once jay-walked with

  Jim Clark

  in Karlsruhe.
• Ate dinner near a guy who might have been

  Wilfred Brimley

  .
• My family attends Renaissance Weekend, and has a terrific time. It is hard to remember if some people are familiar because we saw them on TV, or at the Weekend. BTW, it's not quite the liberal love-fest that the press sometimes claims it is.
• I once helped

  Fred Friendly

  put on his coat after "A Prairie Home Companion." I told him that his "Ethics in America" series was the best of television. He introduced me to his wife. I am glad his series is continuing.
• Every

  President

  whose hand I have shaken was subsequently impeached.