The World Is Interesting

I am at that point before a big trip where everything is at hyper velocity. I leave the day after tomorrow for 2 weeks of California, British Columbia, and California again. Graham is cramming his final papers and getting nervous because he may have to make a toast at his brother's wedding. I told him, that was the LEAST of his worries. Just follow this simple formula and there won't be a dry eye in the house:

Funny Story about Brother + Connecting to an affirming observation of how bride fits with brother + make reference to their friendship and partnership + add beautiful quote (like Love is Friendship on Fire)+ raising a glass to brother and bride = TEARS AND SIGHS ABOUND!

He said, "You're a genius."

I am working today, which is a nice bonus, but also managing the last of the Great Gal orders. If you ordered one in the last 3 days, I've had to get more made--so yours will go out tomorrow, fresh from the presses! Among it all, I've been reading the writer/actor/monologist Spalding Gray. It occurred to me while I was on the train that Spalding Gray would have been a FANTASTIC blogger, had the medium taken off before his horrible accident, which led to his depression, and then suicide last year. His monologues kind of read like blog entries--little stories, not much narrative description, but punchlines GALORE! I laughed out loud when he was talking about the birth of his son Theo, who they all were convinced was a girl. When he came out after 12 hours of labor, Spalding said, "Wow, look at the balls on that girl!"

Spalding has touched upon an idea of blogging that I think about. We are in a time where there has been more interested in real human lives than ever before. There are drawbacks to this--Reality TV shows and a decline in published fiction. There are huge bonuses too--an increase in published memoirs and millions of blogs everywhere, people spilling their guts, their art, their stories out, and people reading and responding. I like that blogging skips the middleman of publishing--you do it yourself and everyone is accessible. Freedom of expression is so vital, so important, and we all want more!

Spalding reminds me that everyday life is funny and sometimes the best story you have is your own and that's TOTALLY OKAY. He died by his own hand last year, after some years of struggle. The greatest loss to the public is his voice. When I read about his funny Manhattan, I kind of hope I'll run into him, but then remember he's not here anymore and then it's terribly terribly sad. But then I think about what his writing says to me: Let's face it, the world is interesting. Write it down. Let's hear about it.