I love the NPR radio program “This American Life”, especially Ira Glass, its host.
Ira MUST have read my blog and realized he does indeed have fans in Orange County. He’s decided to stop by The Barclay Theatre in February. This is the only explanation I have for him coming here.
I would love to take him to Target with me while visiting– just a walk through Target. We could get two large Icees and a popcorn. I would tell him about every aisle while the kids hang from each side of the cart.
“Stay on or stay off,” I would command them.
There is so much to teach; How buying Method products makes you feel good about yourself, spatulas theory, timing seasonal sales, and then there IS the wine section.
Back to the show, I wanted to purchase the $100 tickets which included a pre-show reception with Ira, but I have demonstrated in the past I have no talent (none, zero) speaking to famous people I admire.
*** an aside, upon meeting Bill Moyers after a speech in San Francisco, I panted, “I liked your speech. It was good” (good!) and then just stood there staring at him. He quickly shook my hand and went on to the obviously more intelligent person standing next to me (Larry). ***
So, even though Larry okayed the purchase of the $100 tickets, knowing full-well I would make a utter fool of myself, I decided we should just go see the show and leave it at that. This way I can leave with the small amount of dignity I muster up for my daily life.
Sadly, though I like to fancy myself as someone of a least a little intelligence, this notion can be lost in a moment by a stupid remark or mispronounced word.
It’s fragile–why push my luck just to get an autograph?
In the “research” for this post I came across these four segments of Ira Glass on storytelling–which is the subject of his talk.
I learned from them and they inspired me. They’re good (good! again? whyyyyyyy?).
Storytelling Part 1
Storytelling Part 2
Storytelling Part 3
Storytelling Part 4
I LOVE Ira too. Funny how great minds think alike! I do believe that Ira’s shopping experience at Target would be a little more…ah..authentic in my rural community. Oh wait, that would be Walmart now eh?
Ira’s amazing, I wish he would come to Michigan.
I’m also horrendous at talking to famous people. When I met John Linnell, accordion player from They Might Be Giants, I had five minutes to stare in awe and try to think of something to say while my parents talked to him, and the best I could come up with was still a lame “thanks for playing ‘The Famous Polka'”. Ich.