NOTE: This story was originally written to be included in an “Only in LA” post I was working on, but I thought it was appropriate to give it its own space.

It was June of 2005. Jacob was just over a year old and Brady was cooking in my tummy. We had decided to make the leap from the busy side street in Sherman Oaks to a quiet cul de sac in the ‘burbs. The funny thing about living in Los Angeles, it’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll run into someone famous, semi-famous or someone who wants you to know they have met someone famous.

A couple came in to see the house one day. He was a scruffy dude and she was one of those women who radiated happiness. I’m not sure how it came out, but I discovered that he was Andrew Gold, the singer/songwriter from the ’70s who wrote tunes like Lonely Boy and Thank You for Being a Friend (best known as the Golden Girls theme). While other 34 year old women may not find that remotely interesting, I have ten older siblings — making me quite familiar with all things ’70s pop culture. Andrew wasn’t one of those artists that hid from the past, in fact, he embraced it and was thrilled when I told him that it was just months prior that I was dancing with Jacob and singing “Lonely Boy” along with the satellite ’70s station — a moment I remember so vividly (it was magic in calming him). I also had fond memories of singing his other popular song during senior week with my college friends, another time in my life I was experiencing a milestone.

Andrew and his wife stood in my kitchen for a while, as he reminisced about the glory days — sharing about his experience on Saturday Night Live. I really enjoyed hearing him talk and watching him interact with his wife, who he so clearly adored.

Andrew Gold died of a heart attack on June 3, 2011. May he rest in peace.