Norzin has a Tibetan clothing and jewelry shop on University Avenue in Palo Alto, although it will close after Christmas, after nearly 25 years here. She seems optimistic about the future, the next chapter. Who knows, maybe she will be a star of social media.
She told me that she was warming her food -she cooks herself at home — with her back to the street, but then turned around quickly to see a tall famous looking black man, peering thru the glass at her wares. She ran outside and spoke to him:
“I know you…my daughter is a fan!”
It was Shaquille O’Neal the 7-foot tall NBA star and television commentator. She said she did not notice him filming their interaction; maybe his cell phone is hidden in his pocket and he has a remote way to turn the video camera on. Friends recognized her and sent her the link, which she later showed me, happening by, after my piano lesson at Hotel President.
Norzin had recognized Shaq but confused his name with that of Shaq’s broadcast teammate Charles Barkley. Prompted by Shaq’s (female) friend, Norzin finally calls him by his name. She is charming and playful and adorable. He has 10 million plus followers on his social media account, and as of 4 p.m. today, 525,000 of those had seen the short film — vine? — and 90,000 hit “like”. The comments are generally supportive and not judgemental. Shaq says: she thought I was my main man CHARLES BARKLEY.
They should make a buddy movie together.
