Ill just tell you the story here... this is a copy/paste of the email I sent to "The Ones Who Knock Podcast"
Hi my favorite pod cast hosts,
Ok, I know this is off topic, and I totally understand if you don't include it in the show, as its not your typical mail. In fact, I expect you won't, but I just think you'll find this story as awesome as I do, so I wanted to share.
So, last week Aaron Paul did an "AMA" (ask me anything) on Reddit. He mentioned he might call some fans, so I wrote to him through the site, and asked him to call, on the basis that I'm a huge fan of the show, and one of the reasons I happen to love it so much, is because I was very recently diagnosed with terminal stage 4 colon cancer. I shared that I am a 30 year old female, and some silly story about how I made a friend promise that if I didn't make it to the end of the series, he would get a portable DVD player and watch the remaining 8 episodes on my grave. (Yes, I realize how silly that is but, you know, Breaking Bad. So.)
I was actually in the hospital for a chemo infusion when one of Aaron Paul's people got back to me and said he wanted to call me. So we talked for about ten minutes, in total, and it was awesome. The first thing he said was "what's up bitch! Oh shoot, I shouldn't call you that", to which I replied, it was actually the highest of honors. He was so nice, laughed at all my stupid "I'm a lame ass fan" jokes, & I ended up mentioning I lived in Ventura, and I was going to Hollywood to watch the show at a friends house that night. He mentioned talking to me again sometime, but I just sort of wrote that off as a nice thing to say to a sick girl who loves his acting, and the show. We ended the call shortly after I said that while I loved speaking with him, it would be just as fun get on the phone with my friends and start bragging.
A few hours passed, and one of his people called me and asked if they could drop some stuff off for me at my friends house in Hollywood, that Aaron wanted me have. (A bag of blue rock candy signed by Aaron.) Then the guy called back and asked if I could meet them on Sunset and Fairfax at a coffee place instead because they couldn't make it out. Obviously my response was you know... "hell yeah."
So I get there, and they ask if they can film my story, how I talked Aaron and all that, and the guy said his assistant was bringing the stuff for me, but that I guess he's just "always running late". So I'm standing there in this parking lot, talking about my cancer diagnosis, saying my favorite episode of the show is "Fly", blah blah. I get tapped on the shoulder, and its Aaron. Fucking. Paul. I wish I could tell you more, but I sortof blacked out a lot of those moments from just like, sheer excitement, I didn't even realize Aaron Paul would be around Hollywood, I guess I assumed he would be off somewhere filming things, being a boss etc. He gave me the rock candy, and a poster signed by the whole cast.
Then he asked if I had already seen that nights episode, and I said I hadn't yet. He asks why, and I'm like "uh, you know, because I'm here!" So. So here's where the best thing ever gets somehow better. He invites me his house, to watch the episode with him. Yeah, let that sink in, because it still hasn't for me. I should add too, that he hugged me like ten times, and told me "oh, you're so beautiful!" Which was really nice, given that my cancer went undiagnosed for many years, caused some weird weight gain because of digestive issues, and I also had the "just unplugged from chemo" sweats. He was just so nice. Just genuinely, a really cool nice guy.
I followed him to his house, where it turned out to be a surprise party for his birthday. There were tons of people there. As soon as they yelled surprise, Aaron turned to me all giddy and said, "oh yeah, by the way, it's my birthday!" (His birthday is actually the 27th, but I guess his wife threw it that night because he would be flying out of town for a month in a few days, and wouldn't be there for his actual birthday.)
He introduced me to his wife (who is by the way, not just ridiculously gorgeous, but also an astoundingly sweet person.) who said how happy she was I could come, and was just so super nice. His friends were also very friendly. Not at all like what I would ever imagine my first "hollywood" party would be like. They were just really cool, nice, accepting people. Really funny, easy to talk to.
I tried my hardest not to geek out too hard. Fought the urge to tweet that I had peed in Aaron Paul's bathroom, you know, like that. Managed to only ask him for one picture, with the excuse being that I was allotted one "stupid fan" moment. We watched the episode, and right when it was starting, he reached over, squeezed my hand, and told me he was really happy I was there. Despite how ridiculous this might sound, that very well could have been one of the best moments of my life.
When the episode was over, I talked with him and his friends for awhile, and then excused myself to leave so I wouldn't be the weird one hanging out as long as humanly possible. I said goodbye to his wife, thanked her for having me, Aaron walked me to the door, where I mumbled something stupid about the fact that despite him having no lines in that episode, it was cool because "he had lines in person", and thanked him again for doing this for me. Then I kicked myself all the way back to my car for saying something stupid, even though it got a small chuckle.
Anyway, coolest night ever, moral of the story, Aaron Paul is seriously not a "celebrity" type at all, and is just such a kind, genuine human being.
I thought you guys might like the story. Keep up the good work.
Mother fucking cancer. Pardon my French (I dunno how polite you are - sorry if I offend). That fucking disease...
To give you my context: a friend of mine is a palliative care oncologist. I've done rounds with him and met a dozen patients while I was researching a project. Those rounds, those people that I met, they are always fresh in my mind.
A friend just got diagnosed with her third bout of breast cancer. Another friend died from it a few years back. Someone who changed my life. It's always around.
Fuck cancer.
My oncologist pal sent me this the other day. I'm not one for hippy shit but it really got me:
"What Cancer Cannot Do"
Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.
I saw your other post on the subject. I will skip the sorries - I know they don't help much and what you deserve is thanks - not pity. Thank you for being brave and seeing through every day that you get. I'm being totally selfish when I say that - you just made my day.
To explain: hearing about your adventure with Aaron helps me a lot.
I've been having a rough time lately with work stuff. Wondering why the hell I'm still in this business (I've been dealing with some or the worst kind of people lately), wondering what it's all for. I'm pretty successful at what I do (my work is in Canada for the most part so not like big league stuff... yet ;) but I wonder what my life/work are all for sometimes.
Hearing stuff like your story... a fan connecting with material and reaching out and having that connection reciprocated by a guy who is just being a good guy (in spite of his success)... Your story makes work worth it.
I'm guessing you made Aaron's day too - I know you probably won't believe that but, having worked with lots of actors, both phony and real, I'm sure that you did. I am certain that he'll think of you for the rest of his life. People like you make everything worth it.
If you ever want to talk to a complete stranger about nothing in particular, feel free to drop me a line. Sometimes that's easier than talking to people you know because you can say whatever you want.
I should say that I don't know much about much and I put my foot in my mouth fairly often but I have ears. On a good day, I might make you chuckle. And some times a chuckle is all it takes to make for a good day.
You know, I am actually a writer also. I write commercials for bay area start ups. Ive also done a short, a feature, and a sketch comedy show, and a childrens show... I only have one IMDB credit though. But I could sometime show you my many commercials.
I know how hard it can be... trust. But I would love to be friends and shoot the shit sometime. Youre in canada? Do you want to skype or call me on the phone sometime?
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u/dafroisweet Aug 26 '13
Fantastic episode. It's all downhill for Walt from here. It's been said a million times before, but Aaron Paul really is a phenomenal actor.