Shohreh Aghdashloo

The first time I ever saw Shohreh Aghdashloo was when she played the mother in "The House of Sand and Fog," that awesome adaptation of the novel by Andre Dubus III. Ben Kingsley plays the husband/father. That movie slayed me. It was one of my favorite movies ever, mostly because of her.

Today I saw her at the MFAH, in the Hélio Oiticica exhibit. I was walking through this explosion of color, mostly oranges and yellows, and I see Marian Luntz, the MFAH's curator of film and video, walking with this GORGEOUS woman, whose voice sounds like honey warmed over glowing coals. Deep, sweet, resonant. I think, "I recognize her," and right when I think that, she sees me and says, "Hello, how are you?" And it sounds like she's truly interested.

"Fine, thank you," I say. "I adore your work."

Shohreh places her hands over her heart and thanks me. Then she says, "You have the most beautiful children."

"Thank you so much," I say. The air is warm and easy between us.

"And look at you, you are the MOST beautiful mother...your hat...." I was wearing a straw hat because the kids and I had walked to the museum on this first sunny day in a long time.

"Thank you," I said.

Then we said goodbye: she blew me a kiss, and I blew her a kiss back.

It felt as if we've known each other in another universe and here we were incredibly happy to see one another in THIS one.

And I admit that being called the MOST beautiful mother by Shohreh Aghdashloo sent me into happiness orbit for the rest of the afternoon and evening.