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Living in Chicago has its perks because one often runs into celebrities.

It can be quite a cool experience if you’re like me and actually read celebrity news only to be like “wow these people are real” when you finally meet them in person.

Anyhow, two summers ago after I had my daughter (she was probably two or three months at the time) I was walking around downtown with my husband and mother in-law. We live a few blocks from the main shopping area so it was just another nice summer day of walking and enjoying the sunshine.

I had no expectations of meeting anyone famous and I was used to seeing millions of tourists everywhere so I just did what I always did, busted out the puke green colored sweater poncho my mom gave me.

I think she ordered it and didn’t like the color and initially I was skeptical about it, but it turned out to be the best thing for breastfeeding in public.

So I put it on and was walking down Michigan ave. with baby in tow underneath.

All of a sudden we see Aaron Eckhart standing there talking to some woman, and I’m like “Wait is that the guy we just saw in a movie”?

Of course, I failed to realize I was still nursing the baby beneath this ugly poncho and my mother-in-law who doesn’t speak English was right next to me completely oblivious to why I was going up to some strange man.

Me: “Are you the guy from Thank You for Smoking?”

Aaron Eckhart: “Yes, I am.”

Me: “That was such a good movie, we loved it!”

Aaron Eckhart: “Thank You.”

Me: “So are you enjoying Chicago?”

Aaron Eckhart: “Yes it’s beautiful, we’re here to start filming the new Batman movie.”

Me: “We won’t keep you just wanted to say hi”.

Then he said bye and ran off and caught a cab.

Now, later I realized that this seemingly normal conversation was probably very awkward. He was very polite and nice but I can only imagine what he must have been thinking.

Here is this trio of Muslims one of whom is extremely disheveled, scarf wrinkled and out of place, with a huge puke-green-fringed-poncho. What is she hiding? Is that a small foot poking out? Are those strange noises coming from under there?

I have learned my lesson and try my best to be a little more presentable when I leave the house.

There are just days when I’m so tired and lazy and think who cares if I go out in my pajamas? But those are usually the days I end up running into someone famous.

It’s a catch 22.