I JUST RETURNED

from having lunch with a movie/tv star. How lucky am I?

I had played behind him at a golf course in Scottsdale once. I knew he lived in our fair city.

Today at Brios, an upscale (kinda) Italian chain, I ran into him. I said, "Hello, Dennis. How're you doin'?" I tried to sound Italian, too, but not Rocky Balboa Italian.

Mr. Farina said, "Fine, just fine."

Then we were seated. He and five other genuine Italian looking guys and the star of Crime Story and a whole bunch of other stories, mostly about guns and cops. In fact, before becoming an actor, Dennis Farina was a policeman in Chicago when someone told him he should play police roles in the movies. It all just went from there, I guess.

He dominated the conversation which apparently bothered no one else. He sounded just like he does in the movies. He looked a little younger, a little thinner, and a lot tanner in person.

And, oh yeah. My wife, daughter and I were seated at the next table. But we ate at the same time, at the same place, and I did speak with him.

I kinda think next time he'll ask if we want to join him or something. So I expect to have more ddetails to report at a later luncheon date. To be determined.