Dear Friends,

Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?

How about mistaken for someone who is famous?

The first time I realized I was mistaken for a famous person was during my first year working at Hartwick College when I was still in the Alumni Events Office. I was at my desk, when the phone rang.

I answered, and the voice on the other end said “Kerri Green?” “Yes, this is she. How can I help you?” “Hi! We are so excited to speak with you!” I was puzzled. At this point, I had only been working at the College for a couple of months and didn’t know many people. But, being the friendly gal that I am I answered with as much enthusiasm “Oh! Well it’s great to speak to YOU. How can I help you?” “We’d like to fly you out to California for a red carpet event later this year. Are you interested?”

At this point I was extremely confused, slightly intrigued and skeptical. Immediately I thought it was some sales tactic, or maybe a cleverly disguised plot to murder me? What kind of idiot did they think I was? “Um … what is this for exactly?” “Oh .. the 30th Anniversary of ‘Goonies’.” “The movie?!”

Ok … something was amiss. Don’t get me wrong, I love the movie ‘Goonies’. What kid from the 80’s didn’t love that movie? My friends and I often use movie quotes and this movie makes an appearance routinely! “Data tired” is a favorite, as well as “Hey you guys!” and “Goonies never say die”. But they’re not calling all fans to invite them to a red carpet event. I pause for a minute and say “Why are you inviting me?” Now they paused. I could hear murmuring, papers rustling, and then the voice returns to ask “You ARE Kerri Green, correct?” “Yes …” “From New Jersey?” “Well, I was born there … “ “The Kerri Green that starred in ‘Goonies” as Andy?” Bingo. “Nope, I am not that Kerri Green.”

Clearly, some researcher got their wires crossed and for some unknown reason they deduced that THE Kerri Green who starred in ‘Goonies’ was working as an Alumni Events Assistant at Hartwick College? It was so hilarious! I gave them props for tracking me down to my employment, but had to break the bad news that they had the wrong Kerri Green after all.

When I shared this with my boss and my friends, they thought I should have just gone along with the rouse and taken the free trip to California. What a surprise they would have had when I turned up on the red carpet. Until this incident, I had no idea that the woman who played Andy was even named Kerri Green, so now it’s one of those weird facts that I am aware of.

Not long after this incident my position at the College changed, and part of my new duties was to be aware of anytime the college, or my boss, were mentioned in the news. I discovered how to create a Google Alert for phrases, names, etc. So while creating alerts for my organization, I also created one for my name just for fun.

If you wanted to know anything about the stars of ‘The Goonies’, I know quite a bit, because of the alert on my name. There has been a lot of speculation on a reunion of ‘Goonies II’. Corey Feldman is often in the news talking about it, but it doesn’t seem likely at this point. This year marks the 36th Anniversary of the movie - if you didn’t feel old before, you might now.

In addition to the actress ‘Kerri Green’, I occasionally find out about other ‘Kerri Green’s’. There is an attorney, a college professor, and a doctor. Once I got an alert and it was about ‘Kerri Green’ speaking on a panel the next day. I read it, because with my job, it’s not uncommon for me to be invited to speak, and this could have been about me. For a minute, I was worried I had missed something or was supposed to be there and didn’t have it in my calendar. After scanning the article, I realized it was one of the other Kerri Green’s - the attorney I believe.

I wonder sometimes if these other Kerri Green’s have google alerts for their names and see news stories from my life, my work, this column, and other updates from throughout my career. How interesting to think that somewhere the actress Kerri Green gets alerts of herself in the news, and sees things from my life?! Does she read my column? Is she aware of me at all? Does her publicist review alerts for her as my staff does for me and wonder about me?

It would be very cool to meet her one day. For now, I’ll take some joy out of the possibility that someone may contact her to ask about me, and she will have to say “I’m not that Kerri Green”.

Be well, Chenango.

~ Kerri