My Dinner with Billy Connolly

I once had dinner with the great Scottish comedian Billy Connolly. He won't remember the occasion, but I do.

I used to own a different business. My business involved frequent trips to Edmonton, Alberta. Business was good for about three years but the last time I left Edmonton I was feeling quite fortunate that I still had the shirt on my back - but that story belongs elsewhere.

I always stayed at the same hotel in downtown Edmonton. And so did all the show business celebrities who visited the city for a stopover during their North American tours. I was enjoying a quiet dinner in the hotel dining room one evening when a honking great tour bus pulled up outside the hotel. My table was beside the window and for another hour I had to endure the loud noise of its engine idling as the entourage for the rock band Aerosmith disgorged from the bus and unloaded their suitcases.

On another visit I was enjoying a quiet dinner in the same room when I thought I recognized one of the people at the next table. I wasn't sure at first and kept looking at the man. He must have noticed that I was looking at him because he returned my stare. I was tempted to go over to his table and apologize by saying "I am sorry for staring at you sir, but you bear a remarkable resemblance to a famous Scottish comedian". But I thought better of it. What the hell would Billy Connolly be doing in Edmonton and why would he be sitting in the same restaurant, at the next table to me?

I finished my meal and went to my room for an early night. The next morning the local newspaper was left outside my room door. I picked it up and flicked through the pages to see what was happening in the world. On the entertainment pages appeared a story about the great Scottish comedian Billy Connolly who was performing in Edmonton that evening.

Now I sell his DVDs. If you're a Billy Connolly fan too you can usually find several of his DVDs on our shelves. I'll even autograph the DVD cases for you; I was once very close to him.