I freely admit that I am always delighted to see Lea Thompson attending events thrown by Michael J Fox’s foundation. It just makes me happy. BUT WHITHER DOC BROWN, I ASK YOU?

I have a theory that everyone has a few celebrities over whom they would just…freak out, even if just internally, if they were to meet them — not because they’re huge stars, but just because they have been a huge part of someone’s pop culture life for a very long time in a consistently positive way, and Michael J Fox is one of mine. Because I love Back to the Future so much, and I loved Alex P Keaton and basically I have loved Michael J Fox since I was 8. Not in like a pervy way. I just LOVE him. I do not think I would be able to act cool in his presence. (FWIW, I would have the same reaction to Mary Lou Retton. She was going to come into an office at which I was working once, for a meeting, and I literally didn’t think I was going to be able to handle it. I LOVED HER when I was 8. Maybe these Internal Freak Out Celebs are all tied to being eight years old. I want to know who yours are.) Note: despite this wall of text, MJF himself was not at this event. His cinematic Mom will be a good stand-in, though.

[Photos: Fame/Flynet]