CLOSE ENCOUNTER
Burt Reynolds is in the waiting room
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is a beautiful area and draws celebrities who want to live here. In 1995 I was working as a medical technologist for four doctors at Family Health Associates, where I ran the lab and X-ray departments. One of our patients was actress Patty Duke, who was working on a TV show called Amazing Grace, in which she played a pastor. The show was being shot on location in Coeur d’Alene, and Duke, who was also a co-producer, had Burt Reynolds as a guest actor for one of the episodes.
For the show’s insurance purposes, Reynolds had to have an X-ray taken. He arrived at the clinic accompanied by two bodyguards. My department was near the front of the clinic— first door to the left—and the bodyguards waited there while Reynolds got his X-ray. He came into the room with me, and
I had him take off his shirt. Next I measured his chest and had him put a gown on.
I took the X-ray, then Reynolds waited while I developed the film and had the doctor read it. When we were finished, Reynolds put his shirt on and gave me a peck on the cheek!
My husband was also in the lab, working on a piece of equipment, and he got to meet Reynolds. I remember that he complimented my husband’s western shirt, which was from a store on the Indian reservation in Blackfoot, Idaho.
When Reynolds and his bodyguards left, he gave me an autographed picture. It says:
“To Florence, Thank you for your kindness. You’re a lovely lady. Warmly, Burt Reynolds.”
And, yes, I did wash my face later that day. •