CNN iReport

In the late '70's in San Diego, California Earth Kitt once sang for me on my birthday. I had wrapped a stint as an extra in the movie The Stuntman with Peter O'toole and Barbara Hershey and I was appearing in a stage review at the Ball Express. Eartha's show rolled into town and took over the theater for a short run. I gave up my dressing room to Eartha during her stay. On opening night of her show it just happened to be my birthday. During her show, while singing "I Wanna be Evil" she slinked down the runway and in the middle of her song sat down on the stage in front of me and offered her foot, which I gently kissed. I took a ring off my finger and handed it up to her. She then waved her hand and abruptly stopped the orchestra., She looked at the ring, looked at me, looked at the ring again. The entire audience fell silent as she glared at me. I was petrified. And then she growled "To bad you can't afford me." It was a wonderful moment that I will never forget. I was a fan before and an even bigger fan from that day forward. When she received me backstage at the Orpheum Theater in Boston in the eighties after a performance of Timbuktu, I told her what an inspiration she had been in my life and how much I adored her. She took my hand and said to me: "Always remember what Einstein said: 'All atoms in the Universe are alike.'" Madam Kitt was a profound talent, an intellect, and a warm, caring human being. She will be missed. Most especially by me. RB McGrath www.rbmcgrathfineart.com