...And Then Safeway Security Called Him a Cab

One of the fun things about living in Portland is famous people. While Sisters has had it's share of Dwight (from "The Office" for you who aren't quite "in tune") sightings at Sisters Coffee House, you still don't get the thrill of REAL famous. I'm talking about sports legends, pop stars, the people you see on the cover of Star or US Weekly on a regular basis. Now where is the best place to have encounters with these people you ask?
Safeway.
Yes, the card holder's dream, the store with the giant red and white S plastered almost as many places as Walmart sticks a smiley face. Last night following $1.50 a plate sushi hour at Blue Fin and minutes after watching Jessie's apalled face after tasting a green geletin-like ice cream "dessert" we made our way down the street to Safeway. In need of the obvious girl night necessity, Cammy, Jessie and I stood in the baking isle debating over which brownie mix to purchase when Jessie took a glance down past Betty Crocker and (of course) Safeway Select to.....
I followed her gaze down the isle and then quickly looked back to her, "Did you see...Gre...?"
Calmly she relpied, "Ya, it's him." I laughed and turned back to the wall of brownies. Cammy who had just caught on looked to us, "Who'd you see?" She asked. "Greg Oden." I offered, occupied with a Double Fudge and Double Chocolate Chunk pro and con list. Star stunned Cammy started to race in the direction the Portland Trail Blazer star had gone, calling back begging us to come talk to him with her. While Jess continued her specialty of finding the best brownie deals I ran after Cammy for moral support. Past the frozen food and around the corner to the milk and eggs we came sprinting right into Oden. We did the casual "cool" walk by pretending not to notice, but it wasn't enough... She NEEDED a picture. There was no way she could pass this moment up, it might never come again! So we turned back and Cammy walked right up between his two friends (that had to be a good three feet shorter than him) and asked nervously to take a picture with him. There standing awkardly in between the Jello and milk I snapped the picture that now will be all over facebook and myspace for the rest of our lives. After offering him a "Good luck against the Lakers," we paid for our brownies and walked towards the exit. Behind us people were starting to flock to isle we had just left. As we walked by four uniformed men on our way out we heard them talking, "Ya we need to get him out of here..." "And ask those people to back off..." "He just got here..." "Just shopping..." And then, apparently not aware of his social standing, Safeway security called Greg Oden a cab.