By Susan Dromey Heeter

Musing joyfully this week, I recall times when I’ve been entirely star struck – spotting Omar Sharif in Paris’ Charles De Gaulle airport, catching a glimpse of Wayne Newton in Washington, D.C. and always listening with unabashed enthusiasm as my friend, Jan, speaks of her childhood friendship with Diane Sawyer.

Susan Dromey Heeter

It doesn’t take much for me to start hyperventilating over celebrity, over fame, over the chance encounter with someone famous or infamous. So, when I realized I was actually LIVING with some celebrities, well, I am still in shock.

Last weekend my boyfriend – who also happens to be my husband – and I went to see Manchester by the Sea.  This movie had received rave reviews, sounded like something worthwhile to view, was the vehicle by which Casey Affleck garnered his Best Actor Oscar. The film takes place in Massachusetts, not too far from the NH border and focuses on a family who is suffering through some intensely difficult times.  It’s a tough movie to watch, very dark and somber.  Alas, when I spotted the celebrity housemates, I must say, my heart lifted.

There, in one scene in the kitchen, on the counter – Market Basket Toasted Oats – our cereal. And it was Market Basket brand, not those name brand Cheerios.  I practically leapt out of my seat, dropped my popcorn and announced, “I KNOW that cereal!”  And then, when one of the characters opens the fridge, our Market Basket milk was RIGHT THERE– okay, it was 1% – we usually get 0% – but close enough.  LOOK! I wanted to shout – there’s my milk!

There were more cameos of my housemates – MB spaghetti – the five for five dollar package I nab nearly every week, the very same MB tomato sauce and parmesan cheese.  I was astonished, came home and now feel like I must go through an agent simply to make dinner.

And you may wonder, isn’t this just product placement?  Oh, absolutely, but it’s such LOCAL product placement, so close to home. I KNOW these products – up close and personal!  I am practically a celebrity by default – perhaps part of an entourage.   I live with these stars.

And, sure I’ve grown used to product placement, can spot Tom Brady’s Under Armour endorsements a mile away – but to see my own non brand in a film – well, again, it’s hyperventilation for me as these celebs are close, I live with these big deals.

So, as you muse joyfully on your own brush with celebrity, may you, too, spot your friends on the big screen or on aisle 2 in Market Basket.  And do muse joyfully on your own celebrity and brush with fame.

Susan Dromey Heeter, a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white, debuts her new column “Joyful Musings” at InDepthNH.org. Dromey Heeter is a secondary Spanish Teacher at Dover High School and the mother of two teenage daughters.  Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards. She also writes about thrift shopping and all things frugal  in a column called “Budget Vogue” for the New Hampshire Union Leader.