The Critical Drinker

For one brief moment in 1994, Patrick Stewart was my wingman. I’ll explain. I took a date to dinner in Knightsbridge. During dinner, Patrick Stewart arrived at the restaurant and was seated in an alcove near the front with a couple of friends. As we were leaving, I stopped by his table, introduced myself and my date, and mentioned to him that I’d enjoyed his roles in Dune, Excalibur, and Lady Jane (this was when TNG was at its peak, and I didn’t want to use the word “Picard”). I then apologized for interrupting and started for the door, not wanting to be a nuisance. Instead, and to my complete surprise, he called us back over and spent the next ten minutes asking polite and thoughtful questions. Where were we from, did I enjoy living in London, how did I meet my date, what type of work brings a young US Marine to the UK…he was unfailingly delightful and charming. His two friends were patient and pleasant, seemingly enjoying the interlude as much as we were. After we’d said our goodbyes and made our exit, all my date and I could talk about during the cab ride to her flat was meeting Patrick Stewart. To Sir Patrick Stewart: thank you for being inquisitive and interested in a young US Marine and his date that night…you definitely helped me get laid. Ave atque vale.