Betina Wassermann, 44; marketing manager and jewelry designer; Queens, New York
"After my dog, Igor, died, I made a pendant with his picture. In February a colleague at work said, 'Mickey Rourke’s dog, Loki, died.' I’d been a Mickey Rourke fan for a long time, so I thought, let me make him a pendant of his dog because I love my Igor one, it’s like he’s with me every day. I found the name of his publicist and sent her an e-mail. She wrote back saying, 'Can you get it to me tonight?' My husband dropped it off with her doorman. The next day Mickey Rourke left a message on my answering machine. I called back, and he picked up. I was speechless. He was thankful.
"Four days later a friend called and said, 'He’s wearing your neck-lace at the Independent Spirit Awards!' I was immediately like, oh my god, can you imagine if he wears it tomorrow to the Oscars? The next day I’m freaking, watching him on the red carpet. Then he turned around toward the camera. Ahhh! There it was. Everyone was texting me. I must have gotten a hundred texts in three minutes. Then Ryan Seacrest says to him, 'I can’t help but notice that you’re wearing a pendant of your dog.' People think I’m flooded with business now. I’m not. But the orders are coming in nicely. About 150 a month. And a retailer is doing a showcase of my necklaces. I believe in good karma. I didn’t make Mickey Rourke his Loki pendant for money. I just love dogs, and I know how sad it is when one dies."
Originally published in the July/August 2009 issue of MORE. Read more more wild "What It's Like" stories.
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