Meeting Olivia Newton-John in San Rafael, California (2009)

Dr. Ramzi Salti (right) with Olivia Newton-John and her husband John Easterling

On April 18, 2009, I had the pleasure of meeting Olivia Newton-John (once again) with her husband John Easterling at the Embassy Suites in San Rafael, California.

I was among dozens of people who had been invited to an event that was organized by Olivia and her husband John "Amazon" Easterling in order to promote a new health and wellness drink that is made from special ingredients that come from the rain forest.

Featured as a visionary on Jean-Michel Cousteau’s 2008 documentary Ocean Adventures “Return to the Amazon,” John Easterling and his company were recognized as “the strongest testament that keeping the Rain Forest alive and productive is more economically profitable than cutting it down.” His company, Amazon Herb Co., is providing support to many Indigenous communities in the Amazon. These villages have been challenged by many forces of change, including logging and oil exploration. Now, they have greater choices managing their land, their resources and their culture. Amazon Herb Co. is committed to supporting a positive, sustainable future for the Rain forest and its inhabitants.

Both Olivia and John were very gracious throughout the event. I chatted with both John and Olivia and even got a few items signed. We even shared some laughs when I reminded Olivia of the many times we had met previously "before she married John." I was also glad to know that she still remembered the many articles that I had published about her and her career from my days as an Entertainment writer in Hollywood. These had led to many invitations and great memories over the past decade.

I am sharing a picture from that wonderful event and would like to attest that Zamu tasted as delicious as it sounds. For more info on Zamu, please go to http://www.amazonherb.net/