Dann Gire meets Griffith in airport line

During the late 90s, I was standing in line to board an American Airlines jet at Los Angeles International Airport when a tall guy in front of me caught my eye. There was something vaguely familiar about him. So I tapped him on the shoulder and asked, “Excuse me, sir, are you Andy Griffith?”

Andy Griffith turned around and smiled at me.

I burlbed something about being a great fan of his work.

He politely told me where he was headed to visit some friends.

We boaded the plane and that was the last time I saw Sheriff Taylor.

My brush with greatness was over.