Roger Moore, 1927-2017

I might do the same.

I met Sir Roger once, in a tiny (and very expensive) restaurant in Nuremberg. My friend and I were seated immediately next to his table -- I could have touched him -- in a little alcove.

He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. (I am notorious among friends for this, btw. I have an excellent, even extraordinary, memory for events and things I've read, but I'm seriously lousy at putting together faces and names out of context. To be fair, he was a good bit older than he was in the Bond films. Also to be fair, my friend didn't recognize him either, but then, my friend is not a Bond fan. I am!)

Anyway, he was charming as hell. I noted he looked familiar, but I was thinking I might have met him in a business context. I've done a fair amount of work in the UK. Ha! I asked him if he was a lawyer! He laughed and said no. Then we bantered back and forth in a light, social-flirty way, as is my way and apparently his. It was lots of fun.

Anyway, when he and his companions left, a barrage of flashbulbs went off in front of the restaurant (we could see from the window). We asked our waitress "is he famous or something?" She looked aghast and said "that's JAMES BOND!"

He was in town (Nuremberg) to speak at a Unicef event, apparently. We saw it in the news the next morning.

Anyway. He was charming as hell, and I really enjoyed meeting him. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed it more if I'd known who he was -- I'm sure it would have changed the interaction. Indeed, I likely would not have spoken to him. (Poor things deserve some private time without fans pursuing them).

Anyway, R.I.P. to a charming man.