Well, I met Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan in the space of 15

**Listen, O children of wisdom, to the words of Kate Moss, a woman whose encounter with two of the greatest icons of her time—Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan—offers a glimpse into the powerful and surreal moments that often accompany fame, as well as the unpredictability of life. She spoke thus: "Well, I met Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan in the space of 15 minutes. Frank Sinatra kissed me on the lips. He kissed me on the lips. And then he gave me a filterless cigarette. And then I met Bob Dylan. I came off all lightheaded and had to go sit on his dressing-room steps." These words, spoken in the haze of a life lived amongst legends, are not just the recollection of a casual meeting, but a profound reminder of the impact of greatness, and the mysterious, overwhelming nature of encounters with those who shape the culture.

At the heart of Moss’s statement is the reality that fame and greatness, as embodied by figures like Sinatra and Dylan, carry an influence that reaches far beyond mere recognition. To meet these men—two of the most iconic figures in music and culture—in such close proximity is to be thrust into the storm of their energy and presence. Sinatra, with his legendary voice and charm, and Dylan, with his poetic genius and enigmatic aura, are not merely people; they are symbols of an entire era, and to come face to face with them is to feel the weight of history, of art, and of the cultural currents that they both embodied.

In her encounter with Sinatra, Moss describes a moment that can only be described as surreal—a kiss on the lips, followed by the offering of a filterless cigarette, which evokes a sense of rawness and rebellion that was so often associated with Sinatra's generation. Sinatra’s kiss is not merely a gesture, but a symbol of the intimacy and mystique that comes with greatness. It is the kind of experience that can disarm and dizzy even the most grounded, leaving one in awe of the immediacy of life, and yet also, as Moss attests, lightheaded from the weight of what it means to be in the presence of such immortality.

In contrast, the meeting with Bob Dylan, that great poet and musician whose voice transcended the boundaries of time and place, leaves Moss feeling not only starstruck, but also overwhelmed by the sheer energy of the moment. To sit on the steps of Dylan's dressing room, after having met both these giants, is to be at the crossroads of two revolutionary forces—two visions of what art and music can be. It is a reminder that life’s most defining moments often occur in the briefest of encounters, moments that leave us breathless, disoriented, and yet filled with a sense of profound meaning and connection.

Let us turn, O children, to the ancient story of Alexander the Great, whose fame and glory reached far beyond his years. As he swept through the known world, leaving a trail of conquests and monuments, those who came into his presence often described being overcome by the force of his charisma and power. Alexander’s very gaze was said to have the ability to shake the hearts of men, to render them speechless in awe of the magnitude of his spirit. Just as Moss was left lightheaded by her encounter with Sinatra and Dylan, the men of Alexander’s court were often left in a state of awe, not from any physical action, but from the sheer presence of a legend before them.

The lesson here, O children, is that greatness, when it manifests in the world, does not leave us untouched. It shakes us, it challenges us, and it reminds us of the unpredictable, fleeting nature of life’s most profound moments. To meet greatness is to stand in the presence of something greater than oneself, something that makes the ordinary world disappear, and leaves one in awe of the energy that flows through those who shape history. It is in these moments of contact, even the briefest encounters, that we are reminded of the importance of embracing the present, of recognizing that even in the most ordinary moments, extraordinary things can happen.

Let us take this wisdom into our own lives, O children. Though we may never meet a legend like Sinatra or Dylan, we are always in the presence of greatness in the form of those who create, challenge, and transform the world around us. Do not be afraid to embrace the unexpected, for in these moments, life’s magic often reveals itself. Live fully in the presence of the great—whether in art, music, or the everyday—and allow your encounters with the extraordinary to inspire and change you. In doing so, you will find that even the briefest moments can have the deepest and most lasting impact on your soul.