What would you do?

ForYourSmile · Post by **ForYourSmile** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 9:38 pm

In my normal state I would choose a short and polite greeting, but if I would see Cohen I would not be normal. Poor Leonard. Maybe I would say something as "I am your fan and I try to write in the forum... " or worse, "I didn't understand a line of When This American Woman", or "Excuse me, Mr. Cohen, do you have a minute to speak about women, death, religion, love and the Iraqi war?".

Ali · Post by **Ali** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 9:42 pm

Sit near him and hope he talked to me

John the Shorts · Post by **John the Shorts** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:01 pm

Almost I would have started singing - but I know my limits

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 1:02 am

Tough, tough decision. I would want to just acknowledge him, "Hi Leonard," and keep walking. Torn by ambivalence, I'm afraid I might join Ali in her decision, to sit nearby and hope for the best in the way of an acknowledgement from his direction, or better yet, a conversation.

~ Lizzy

Mirek · Post by **Mirek** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 1:54 am

Hmmm.. sunny day, you said... nice point to start.
I'd approach him and say: Hey man.. I am selling nice sunglasses - wanna buy?
Of course he could just say: no, thanks...

Then I'd stare at him scratching my head a little and I'd shout - wow, I know you - you're Dustin Hoffman!!!! Congrats for "The Graduate" - you were great!!!

Do you think this could work?

Mirek

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:52 am

It could give him a laugh, like it did me

.

Tri-me · Post by **Tri-me** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:48 am

I don't know what I would do, hopefully I would introduce myself and shake his hand. I have been learning to do this, it is a skill. I think if he were out in public he would be hard to recognize - I see him wearing sunglasses and a hat or something so it would be hard to tell if it were him or a look alike. I want to meet him, would be a dream come true.

I saw a friend's film this week-end, Margaret and Deidre, Gretchen Kelbaugh the filmmaker, recieved permission to use one of his poems. The character Deidre quoted the poem, sorry I cannot say which one I was unfamiliar with it. She recieved permission to use it for free. So happy for her!!!

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 12:50 pm

As one of Leonard's friends, Joni Mitchell, once sang, "I am a free man in Paris. I am unfettered and alive." What goes around, comes around. I am glad that Leonard and his new management company passed on his goodwill for your friend's film.

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:08 pm

I would introduce myself, try not to be too fawning

, and strike up a short conversation about whatever was happening there and then on the day. And then, if he invited me to sit down have a coffee with him, well, I'd think about it

!

Diane

Ali · Post by **Ali** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:28 pm

Sadly, if LC had read my entry in the short story comp, he would probably leave his coffee and run a mile - he would think his Psycho Brit Stalker had come to get him.

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:39 pm

I don't think so, Ali. At least, not unless your picture is to be printed on the Berlin booklet, otherwise, he wouldn't realise it was you. Anyway, what a fab way that would be to start a conversation, to introduce yourself as the person who had won the short story comp

.

I think if I ever really got to meet Leonard, I would just like to shake his hand and sincerely thank him for all the beauty in his work. I would be so glad to be able to do that

.

Diane

ForYourSmile · Post by **ForYourSmile** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:41 pm

A question for our seating ladies: What would you do if the Ladies' man is not really dead?

(Two shameful misprints that I found in this poll: do not bother him & Bird On the wire).

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:58 pm

A sincere and well put compliment with no strings attached is always welcome. The rest, e.g. autograph-photo request is harassment and a pain in the ass for a public person. It causes him to have a low opinion of the person seeking it.
For instance, I was in the company of someone of a similar stature who was greeted by a passerby who said, "Hero of my youth!" and just walked away. This put a smile on the "hero's" face.
As with any human interaction, it's always beneficial to try to put yourself into the other's place.

Tri-me · Post by **Tri-me** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:23 pm

I am glad that Leonard and his new management company passed on his goodwill for your friend's film.

Actually. on the document she recieved from Leonard's people she recognized the name of the woman in articles written about the law suit. This is a feature length film, it takes a long time to make a film especially when you are a very independant filmmaker. Independant films are very popular these days. The Parker Posey indies still have big production companies behind them. This woman had herself family and freinds as her "big" production back-up. I am so happy to know that Leonard supports grass roots artists, he may not recall the situation, but I like to think it was brought to his attention.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:19 pm

Since it's that time frame, and it was Kelley's name, I guess it could've come from either direction ~ with or without Leonard's permission ~ since any number of other 'executive decisions' were made without consulting him. If it involved Leonard, good for him for continuing to be the humble, supporting man he is. If it was strictly Kelley, now's an opportunity to say that Kelley is not all bad. I'm aware of a couple, other good things she's done ~ and there are, no doubt, many more. She's done a horrendous thing to Leonard, but the kindnesses that she's capable of, as well, no doubt contributed to Leonard's ambivalence when all this first came down.

Yes, the well-placed and delivered compliment would be my second choice [though I should probably nudge it into first place], but I bypassed it on the [mistaken?] belief that Leonard prefers to be left alone, when in those public settings. However, the situation you've described, Lightning, is anything but intrusive.

~ Lizzy

What would you do?

It's a sunny day, you are walking along your city, pass close to a cafe's terrace and recognize Leonard Cohen, alone, sitting in front a table close to an vacant chair. What would you do?

What would you do?