SEAN CONNERY: LICENSE TO GO TO A MUSEUM

How DOES this network of pestiness work? A retired movie star goes to a museum, and somehow, a photo agency photographer is RIGHT THERE when he's on his way out. What was the lag time? The stalking time?

It's enough to make most anyone paranoid, but at 83, Sean Connery is obviously used to it, and mellow about it.

"Can I take your picture, MR. CONNERY, a quick snapshot?

Wonder what flashed through Sean's mind: "Glad to know I'm still a star" or "Is the caption going to make fun of my age? My hat?"

No, they'll make fun of your waistband not being buttoned.

As this IS the Libra time of year, I have mixed feelings about stuff like this. It's kind of stupid and annoying that paps are out there doing this, and obnoxious that a celeb must be paranoid about stepping out looking anything but perfectly groomed. But if you're a fan, it's nice to know the guy's alive and well, and perhaps even world-weary Mr. Connery likes to know he's still a star and newsworthy.

If you go to the Met Museum now and then, you can look at this and think, "Hey, I could've been there...thanks to this pap I didn't miss much. I probably wouldn't have recognized him, and would not have the nerve to take a photo even if I had a camera with me...so this is nice to see."

Keeping a respectful distance, taking a picture and going away? Sort of okay. Making a big deal about how he's 83 and his pants aren't on right...sort of tacky.