Since the early '80s, my wife and I have been fans of ZZ Top. In recent years we have been able to see them at Meadowbrook. During Bike Week this year I was able to fulfill a decades-old fantasy and meet the iconic group in person backstage after their show.

I was armed with a couple of items I was hoping to have autographed. As we were about to be photographed together, lead singer Billy Gibbons noticed the license plate from my truck that I was holding onto (it reads ZZ-TOP). He grabbed the plate from my hand, saying "gimme that thang" and held it in front of me, pointing to it just as the pic was taken. After the photo, all three autographed the prized plate, which now resides in my living room next to an 8-by-10 of that photo.

Meeting the band, and that moment in particular, had to be one of the most memorable times in my life. They are truly larger than life, yet very down-to-earth in person.

RICK BLODGETT

Concord