No, didn't meet the great man. Wasn't even in the same room as him, unfortunately. It was a YouTube video. Perhaps my penchant for name dropping misled you, sorry!

I liked that about your story - the sense of wonder and child-like bravado, set in the so-called real world. But as seen by someone who is also in their own world. The interaction of the two, from the protagonists perspective, jelled well.