Our friend Matt, Jessica, and I went to the Asheville School this week and listened to author Sarah Vowell speak. We LOVE Sarah Vowell, and have read all of her books (Partly Cloudy Patriot, Assassination Vacation). In addition, she is a regular contributer to This American Life, an NPR program that we adore. Her work is difficult to describe, and I should not even try - will but I go ahead and screw up the description: She most often writes about American History - but in the most hilarious way possible. Often, she explores some of the more obscure topics in our history (ie: the assassination of President Garfield, the Oneida community, Freemont's surveyor, etc) - and does it in a way that will have you laying on the floor, pounding your fist saying, "oh, my, sides!"
Anyways, she was amazing. The Asheville School is a private boarding school, just down the road from our house. This year they are having a "Speaker Series," where they have invited interesting writers, journalists, academics, etc. to come and speak to the student body. Though not advertised hardly at all, all of these events have been free to the public. Jeff and I went to their political debate last month. But I was most excited about Sarah Vowell. She was hilarious and entertaining.
But she also said this great thing that is really sticking with me. She was telling the students that she had not had a lot of great advice throughout her life, except for this one thing. She explained that a mentor had once told her to just go watch people do things that they are really great at - like a great musician, waiter, basketball player, artist, or actor. Hopefully it will be inspirational and maybe it will rub off - if you see it enough. What amazing advice, huh? I have been lucky in my life, that is without debate. And it occurred to me that much of that luck came in the form of my exposure to great people, and people who were great at certain things. It did, and continues to, inspire me to be better. I hope that this is something I can provide for Noah. I hope that I can place him in as many environments as possible where he can witness greatness. I mean, we all just need to know what is possible. I think that helps us believe.
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