Open Letter From Rikki Lee Travolta

Dear Friends,

A number of years ago I was on location for a performance and was staying at the Hilton. It turned out that Frank Stallone and Don Swayze were both staying at the same hotel too; all of us for entirely different projects.

It was very ironic in a very surreal way.

Although it occurred before the blessed curse of reality television taking over the airwaves, this little scheduling oddity seems like just the kind of event reality television producers would drink large quantities of top-shelf vodka trying to come up with:

The figurative bridesmaids of celebrity, the second most famous members of three famous acting families all together in one place at one time.

In fact, in 1999 the WB television series "TV STARS" starring Harry Hamlin and Jennifer Grant recreated the scenario. I wasn't available but the equally capable Joey Travolta was used in my place opposite Don and Frank.

Life is full of funny ironies of circumstance.

Once I was on my way into the post office to mail a script to my friend Michael Dorn. Just as I approached the door to the building, I suddenly found myself face down on the pavement and a half-dozen gun barrels pointed at me.

Apparently I fit the general description of a wanted felon who had been reported to be hiding out in the area.

Being tacked onto the pavement and force-fed large gun barrels is not the funny part, I assure you. What I find humorous is how the situation was alleviated.

At the time of going from casual post office visitor to case-of-mistaken-identity public enemy number one, I was wearing a "HIGHLANDER" baseball hat, reflecting the logo of the 1990s television series starring Adrian Paul.

One of the officers turned out to be a fan of both my acting and the "HIGHLANDER" television series.

"Hey, this is Rikki Lee Travolta," he said protectively as he got the other officers to drop their weapons. "I saw him on Highlander. It 's one of my favorite shows."

Based on the officer's endorsement of my acting talents and his love of "HIGHLANDER" I was quickly released after giving a few autographs.

The funniest thing about the story, though, is that I'd never appeared on "HIGHLANDER." The officer had obviously liked my work on another show and mixed them up. However, I thought it might be best if I not point that out to him right then.

What's also funny is how quickly I got through the line in the post office once the police did release me. Customers parted like the Red Sea to let me through.

I guess when you've just been seen being tackled by cops and are suddenly on the loose again; people don't want to get in your way.

I think that's funny.

There are so many sources of amusement in our own lives. I really believe God does have a sense of humor.

The key to enjoying life is being able to laugh at ourselves, and also to appreciate the positives rather then dwell on the negatives.

Life is never going to be perfect. There will be bumps along the road, I promise you that. But we can enjoy our journey a lot more if we take it all with a sense of humor.

After all, when you really think about it: comedy or tragedy - it's all relative.

Peace Love Trust

rikki lee travolta