Rosie remembers lesson from "What's Happening" star...

Go ahead and judge if you want. But my siblings and I loved the old sitcom "What's Happening" and one of the reason was Shirley Hemphill who played Shirley the waitress at the diner. She was sassy and oh-so-funny. She died a few years back, way too young.

On her Rosie.com blog. Rosie O'Donnell writes of an experience involving people's change in behavior once they realize they are in the presence of a celebrity. Here is the entry:

shirley hemphill
from whats happening
was the first famous person i knew

she took me in her red corvette
to the movies while we were working
tiny stand up gigs
1985

a car cut in front of us
gave shirley the finger
beeped their horn
sped away cursing loud

silence in the car
as we approached the red light
she rolled down her window

well hello - she said
that famous voice

6 young black teens
on the way to the mall
went ballistic
SHIRLEY
SHIRLEY
I LOVE U GIRL !!!!

away we drove
dont forget that kid
i never did

yesterday
while shooting that dolphin video
i told a family filled boat
to call to them
they will come to u

and the adamant furious mom person
screamed
YEA AND THATS HOW U KILL THEM
no i told her - they have sonar
WHAT THE HELL DO U .....
HEY THATS ROSIE ODONNELL
she told her family
who turned their video cameras
away from the magic
to shoot me
looking stunned
as they all waved

2 days of sun
i believe in the light