When I was THIRTY-NINE

 And Mel Gibson said to me ,

 "I want what you have."

Yes, he said that to me.

I know.  Shocking, isn't it?

Let me put that statement in context:

We were sitting in the ranch office where I work, visiting. There was Mel, his accountant/producer, our ranch manager and me. Mel found it hard to believe he'd owned the ranch 12 years already and commented how no one seemed to get older at the ranch. And it was then that he wheeled his chair around and looked straight at me and made his memorable statement. After which he followed it with his own answer. "Must be those little bottles of booze they sell on the airplanes!"
Bwahahahaha.

It was a couple days from my 39th birthday at the time. 

What better birthday present for a girl than to have something

Mel Gibson wanted ????!!??!?!?!

Especially when she's 39!  Shucks, any time!

One remembers exact dates

when something like that happens. 

One remembers the setting. 

One precisely remembers the conversation.

One also knows what one was wearing and hasn't yet sent the clothes to charity because sometimes she goes to the closet, looks at the shirt and wonders, "What part did the clothes have to do with that comment?"

I could tell you many a fun story from my tenure in Mel Gibson's world, but instead I will just say what a wonderful ride it was. 

He was fun and funny.  It was a treat to be on the edge of his world and work with his people.  He was good to us at this ranch that he owned for 17 years.  His entourage of people were good to us too.  I liked working with them during all 17 years.

I will be forever grateful to Mel Gibson not only for the treasured comment he gave to me but also for how his ownership of the ranch enhanced my life.

And to think...he said it during my chubbier days.

Mel and me at the ranch on farewell day.

And life goes on.....me today.

Thanks, Mel !

Movies that Mel starred in during the time I was employed at his ranch.

"Complete Savages" .... Officer Cox (3 episodes, 2004-2005)

   - The Complete Savages in...'Hot Water' (2005) TV episode .... Officer Cox
   - Thanksgiving with the Savages (2004) TV episode .... Officer Cox
   - Car Jack (2004) TV episode .... Officer Cox
Paparazzi (2004) (uncredited) .... Anger Management Therapy Patient
The Singing Detective (2003) .... Dr. Gibbon
Signs (2002) .... Rev. Graham Hess ... aka "M. Night Shyamalan's Signs" -
We Were Soldiers (2002) .... Lt. Col. Hal Moore
What Women Want (2000) .... Nick Marshall
The Patriot (2000) .... Benjamin Martin
Chicken Run (2000) (voice) .... Rocky
... aka "C:R-1" - USA
... aka "Chicken Chicken Run Run" - Japan
The Million Dollar Hotel (2000) .... Detective Skinner
Payback (1999/I) .... Porter
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) .... Martin Riggs
FairyTale: A True Story (1997) (uncredited) .... Frances' Father
Conspiracy Theory (1997) .... Jerry Fletcher
Fathers' Day (1997) (uncredited) .... Scott the Body Piercer
Ransom (1996) .... Tom Mullen
Pocahontas (1995) (voice) .... John Smith
Braveheart (1995) .... William Wallace
Maverick (1994) .... Bret Maverick
The Man Without a Face (1993) .... Justin McLeod
The Chili Con Carne Club (1993) .... Mel
Forever Young (1992) .... Capt. Daniel McCormick
Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) .... Martin Riggs
Hamlet (1990/I) .... Hamlet
Air America (1990) .... Gene Ryack
Bird on a Wire (1990) .... Rick Jarmin

Now go find other fun stories, not necessarily associated with 'thirty-nine', but with the letter 'tea' 'tee' 't' 'T" at: