That's Literary celebrity to you

Kim Stafford.  I mentioned this name recently to two co-workers and I received one knowing nod and one confused shrug.  I tried to explain to her who Kim Stafford is by keywords, like: William Stafford, the poet?  Lewis & Clark College?  But the nodder interjected for me and simply told the shrugger, "Portland literary celebrity."  And then, she too nodded.  Apparently, subject over.  

Or at least paused.  Because here it is, much later, and I am still thinking about it.  My two well-read co-workers moved on to other topics, but I was caught hanging in a spiderweb of literary envy.  Kim Stafford is a celebrity.  To me and my bookstore cohorts.  I was given his book, The Muses Among Us by the nodder like it was a coveted comic book or baseball card.  I saw Kim Stafford in the grocery store, he said hello to me, and I reported this to my friends with glee.  I wrote about it in a blog for Christ's sake!  

But those of literary fame are a unique strain of celebrity.  Different from actors, musicians, even painters, hell, newscasters!  These sorts of celebrities are famous because they are highly visual and well-known.  When I was a bartender I once waited on Viggo Mortenson.  This is story-worthy because people know who he is.  I'm not particularly crazy about him, but if the most popular boy in your high school asked you to the prom, it'd be a big deal.  Even if he was an asshole.(1)  But talking to Kim Stafford in the grocery store is like the boy you actually have a crush on asking you to prom.  Seeing Kim Stafford in public is story-worthy because I want to BE him.  

Viggo Mortenson hoped(2) I would not recognize him, so I obliged and pretended not to know him.  But Kim Stafford said hello to me because we'd met before.  He's a normal person, which makes him all the more god-like.  I'd just finished reading The Muses Among Us so I told him I bought a tiny journal to carry around with me because of him.  He excitedly reached down his sweater vest and pulled out his little journal.  It was decorated exactly like he described in his book--with a 1-cent stamp.  He opened it up and read a quote he transcribed from a sign he'd seen at the hardware store.  "Your wife called.  She said buy anything you want." He said.  And we giggled together.  

I happen to remember what kind of wine Viggo Mortenson likes, Coppola Cab (3), because he happens to be famous.  But I've had conversations with Kim Stafford and I still idol-worship him.  And I bet Viggo Mortenson does too.  I've waiting on both men, one at a bar, and one at a bookstore.  Men in bars usually try to act like big shots--until a movie star enters.  Then they all, movie star included, try to act low-key, casual, comfortable, cheap imitations of Kim Staffords, men who are actually casual and comfortable.  Viggo Mortenson pretended to not be famous when I served him his wine.  The first time I met Kim Stafford I asked him for his autograph and he asked me for my life story.  Then, like the teacher and father he is, he gave me advice.  

Literary celebrities are famous to some extent, but they have no idea.  Or maybe they are just as excited about their 'fans' as we are about them.  I haven't really seen many of Viggo Mortenson's movies, but I know his face and his name.  But I've read Kim Stafford books and essays and I know his art.  The things he cares about, I am moved by.  That I know who he is and want him to sign my book proves that we share a love of writing, not just that I've seen Lord of the Rings.  

(1) For the record, Viggo Mortenson was not an asshole.  He was an exceptional tipper. 

(2) I think.

(3) I remember because, oh how original for an actor to choose wine made by a director.