Nov. 13-14, SEATTLE
again. Drive back
up from Portland to join a couple of Washington state National Guard
members for
live panel discussion on Seattle's PBS TV station. More than 3000
Washington guard members have just been called up to go spend a year in Iraq. I
am there to provide the family's perspective. Serious business, but while
taking my seat on TV set, realize that on this show, camera will show us
all from head to toe. Simultaneously realize I am wearing black pants,
black shoes, and... white socks. Luckily, pants have elastic
waistband. Tug them down far enough to cover socks when sitting.
Humiliating fashion faux pas averted.
Early next morning, live
phone interview with San Francisco-area radio station. Very smart
interviewer, uses swanky words like "nexus." Take my cue from
him and use words like "mitigate" instead of "lessen."
As usual, as soon as I'm off the air, think of fifty things I should
have said or could have said better. Am good at answering the question
asked, not so good at using a question as a jumping off point to talk
about what I really want to talk about, the way politicians do. It's
harder than it looks.
After interview, drive 15
hours to Santa Cruz to see my uncle, (who starred in the book's "This
Road Sucks" chapter).
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