1:55 p.m. College St. and University Ave. Waiting for a west-bound streetcar to take me home after a fine Indian buffet lunch at Kama (Simcoe and King) with a buddy after an earlier chance encounter with two former co-workers.

And then there she was, in all her vice-regal splendor: Gov-Gen. Adrienne Clarkson!

Well, let's make one thing clear: she wasn't standing beside me waiting for a streetcar. She was in the back seat of a black limo, with only a driver and handler upfront for company.

Another official-looking black limo-ish car was behind her. It had a magnet-mounted red light on the roof and other such accountrements of officiousness.

Her GGness didn't look like she was having a good day. She almost looked like a gloomy animatronic model of herself in power-down mode.

There was no making eye contact with the loyal subjects. She kept her eyes fixed on the roof of her car.

If she had glanced my way, I would have thrown her a mock salute to try and cheer her up, but sadly, our bonding moment was not to be.

I suspect there's some truth to the old Double Exposure line: "Hello. I'm Adrienne Clarkson -- and you're not."

Question for all you protocol experts out there:

Would it have been okay to approach the vice-regal limo and ask if she was heading west of Bathurst and if so, would it furthermore be acceptable for me to ask if I could catch a lift?

Afterthought

Maybe what the GG needs to restore herself is a road trip. I think a little time in Europe, drinking fine wine, eating haute cuisine and chatting with people who understand the pressures of having to be regally dignified 24/7 would do her a world of good!