First event blog
Attending the convocation was an unforgettable experience. I didn’t even know what the word convocation meant until this morning. For the record, it means a large formal gathering, or a ceremonial event at a college where awards are presented. Though it was an honor to here and to meet the author who slaved for years to produce the book that we read this summer, acceptance, even honorary acceptance into our class seems a dubious distinction. The author’s charismatic presence and ingenuous presentation helped in fostering a new appreciation of her book. It makes me wish that we could meet, or at least hear all authors who have ever written a book. Considering that the majority of them are no longer with us however, I guess it would cramp their style, and we should just be happy for the clarification from Mary Roach.
The evening began predictably enough. Those who are either compulsively early to everything, or who don’t have anywhere else to be didn’t disappoint. We were gathered in the Performing Art Center way before four thirty. Pre curtain conversation, aka gossip abounded. The general mood was one of expectation. No one really knew what to expect, even if they did happen to read the book. When persons began to be admitted, there was the novelty of card swiping, which threw off some of the pencil pushing crowd who feel obliged to sign everything on a clip board, but no riot resulted. Then there was the usual directive to head toward the farthest row, and fill in without leaving any spaces. Of course, there were the usual refusals to do so, and that was fine too.
I myself had the very pleasant experience of having the first person to say a word to me all day being one who held up a phone and asking with what I can imagine was all the earnestness he possessed,
“Do you think this girl’s butt looks fat?”
At least he had the common courtesy to say excuse me first. Following that lovely encounter, there were the moments of waiting while those kind gentle folks who weren’t ridiculously early to file in to their seats. When the requisite event announcement was made, and the equally indispensable administrative speeches were given, most were prepared for the evening’s presentation, but not necessarily for the ensuing entertainment.
Mary Roach’s inimitable discussion was fortunately or not, not a rehashing of the book. Instead, she chose to give the students the deeper meanings that shadowed her writing. The aeration was not perfect by any means, but it seemed unaffected. As well as insight as to the location of various erectile tissues, the students were given a glimpse of the author’s method and writing style. The message that rang forth loud and clear was,
“Be curious.”
It was an appropriate message, and one apparently well received considering what happened next. It was nice that Mary Roach devoted much of her allotted time to questions. She said frankly that they should be as uninhibited as possible. Many students obliged, and she gave equally satisfactory answers, to everyone’s delight. After the presentation, many stayed to have the value of their books increased, so when they went to sell the copies that they didn’t purchase on eBay, the circle would be complete. Those who did doubtless got a little more of Mary Roach’s humor.
All in all, it was a lovely evening for most. It is an experience that I wouldn’t trade for all the mental stability in the world, and that’s a lie. It was pretty cool though.