Dustin and a veteran warning

I really like those dreams when you feel real important because you attend a BBQ with Brad & Angelina, advise Cher on her next career step, have a steamy affair with Ryan Gosling - all that good stuff that makes the car ticket you got last week magically disappear.

It's even better when your dream feels like reality- which is the only way to describe what happened four years ago. In that dream, I actually got to meet one of my idols, had a word (which I don't remember any more, naturally), and felt like the country girl had met one of the creative Gods of our time.

His name? Dustin Hoffman.

The Dustin Hoffman I got to experience was amusing, inspiring, had a strong character, a breathtaking charm and a childlike fascination. It was one of these days, backstage at the Tonight Show, when Jay Leno rushed by me. Dustin told me I had a great smile and cheekily warned me never to get involved with someone in the industry. So I didn't (of course). When it comes out of Dustin's mouth, it's a law.

Ah, that LA dream years ago. It felt so real!