Kate's Point of View

The Product of Creative Frustration

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Years ago I hugged Josh Ritter and I've had regrets about it ever since. At a recent event at the Mercantile Library, I redeemed myself.

Josh Ritter and Me: Redeeming the Past, With Hugs

Once, years ago, I hugged someone and I’ve had regrets about it ever since.

My aversion to hugging is no secret. I generally avoid it at all costs. I’ve learned to handles myself through goodbyes with my in-laws, and will occasionally hug someone if it seems like the socially correct thing to do, but as a general rule, I do not hug.

A Hug Gone Wrong, Twice

But once, I was at a sparsely attending music festival that my friends where helping organize. There were many good folks acts on the bill, but I was there for Josh Ritter. The lack of attendance at the festival was terrible for the organizers, but it did hold some perks for the attendees. We didn’t have to fight crowds to get to the front of the stage, we never had to wait in line for food and drink, we got to meet many of the artists, and as friends of the organizers, we were able to partake in some of the back-stage beverages.

The combination of those last two is killer.

I remember the day. It was fun! But I also remember drinking too much and being distinctly aware of being just on the wrong side of out of control. At one point I had a conversation with Zach Hickman, the bassist in the Josh Ritter’s band and a musician I greatly admire. The conversation went something like this:

“I like your mustache.”
“Thanks. Me too.”

That was it. That was my moment and all I chose to say was, “I like your mustache.”

And still, it gets worse.

Later in the evening, when I was nearing the pinnacle of my drunkenness, my brother-in-law approached Josh Ritter and said, “My sister-in-law over there loves you and you would make her day if you gave her a hug.” And so Josh did. And while he did, I stood like a cement column. It was so awkward that he didn’t know what to do to end the interaction and so just hugged me again. Which would have been awesome, if I could have appreciated it.

And so, I added a goal to my 100 Things list that read: “Hug Josh Ritter … sober this time.”

It’s a goofy addition to the list and one that I always thought would be difficult to achieve. But if I managed to have The Features over for dinner, why not a sober hug?

A Chance at Redemption

Over the years I have seen Josh Ritter too many times to count. My conservative guess is 8-10 shows. No hugs. Recently, while on a trip in Argentina, I got an email from the Mercantile Library that they were hosting a new series called the Words and Music Lecture Series and the first guest would be Josh Ritter. My wi-fi was too spotty to buy tickets overseas, but I managed an email to my mom asking her to purchase memberships to the Library for Wonder Boy and I and to reserve tickets for this event. She totally saved the day and hooked us up.

And so this past Thursday, I went to the event with one task in mind. A hug.

To start, the event was great. Josh Ritter sang several songs, including a few of my favorites. He answered questions from the crowd that reiterated the importance of being creative and how all sorts of creative ventures can add fuel to the creativity you need for your main venture. He was personable and smiling the whole goddamn time and it only reiterated while I love him as an artist.

After the talk, there was a book and album signing and I scooted my way immediately over to the line. Thought only maybe 15 people back in line, I waited a bit. Josh talked to every person, answering their questions and taking whatever time was necessary. It sounds like I am gushing, and I am, but I am not the only person who made this observation. As I moved up in line, I tried to prepare myself to do better than the mustache question and way better than the inanimate object hug.

It went lovely.

Josh Ritter was the first person to be featured by the Mercantile Library for their Words and Music Series.He greeted Wonder Boy and I with hugs (check!). Then I explained to him about the last time I met him and how my goal since then was to give him a hug sober. And he smiled and said, “But I’m a little drunk. Is that okay?” It was, so he gave me a hug. (Check again!) And then I asked him the question I would have asked during Q&A if my voice could carry across a crowd: For someone who is constantly touring, how do you make time to write and create? Here is how he answered … I’m paraphrasing but it’s close:

I used to travel with my family so it was great because I did’t have to take time off from them to write. Now my daughter is in school so I can’t do that and I have to write while I am on the road more. I’m lucky because my team is great and I can trust them to set up while I get to walk around and work on songs. I have to write every day in order for it to feel like a good day.

And then he gave me another hug. ANOTHER HUG.

I think this instance totally redeemed the first one. I asked a smart question, or at least I think I did, and kept myself more composed than I have in previous celebrity interactions, and I got my hug(s). I left the Library floating and smiling from ear to ear.

That 100 List has turned out to be an inspired idea. The most ridiculous things are coming true. I need to aim higher.

Redeeming two bad hugs with several good ones, by hugging Josh Ritter at the Mercantile Library.

 

Saying Goodbye to David Bowie via Jareth the Goblin King

This morning I got online only to feel my stomach drop like a ton of bricks. News that David Bowie has passed away is flooding my news streams. Most of  my friends are talking about his music and some about his larger body of creative work. Many people are sharing memories they associate with his songs and a few lucky people about experiences at live concerts.

My introduction to David Bowie is so much … less cool but equally dear to me. My first favorite movie, or at least the first one I remember, was Labyrinth. This 1986 collaboration between Jim Henson, George Lucas and David Bowie was, in financial terms, a flop. It cost an estimated $25 million to make and grossed an estimated $12.5 million. While the Henson puppetry is amazing, some of the film’s special effects are comically bad. Jennifer Connelly, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in Beautiful Minds, is much less polished in this film. And the pants David Bowie wears for his role as Jareth the Goblin King. I don’t know if this is a pro or con to the film but they are terribly revealing for a movie targeting kids.

Objectively I can critique Labyrinth, but that doesn’t make me love it any less. I own a copy of the movie as well as the soundtrack. When I watch, I can sing along with the songs and recite too much of the dialogue along with the characters. There’s something lovely and ridiculous about it.

This morning, when I saw the David Bowie had died, I felt sad because it means we’re losing a creative genius. Because the music canon can’t be further expanded with his work.

And I knew, within milliseconds, that tonight I would be sitting down to watch one of my very favorite movies.

Labyrinth wasd my first favorite film and launched a lifelong love of David Bowie.

An Update Over Coffee

If we were having coffee right now…

I’d tell you about the awesome book I just finished (The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George) and ask you if you’d read anything good lately.

I’d let you know that Wonder Boy and I invested in some rental property a while back. It’s finally rented out (whew!) and learning to become landlords has been an interesting process.

I’d tell you how surprised I was when I realized that it was more than a year ago that I started having symptoms that led to me having a hysterectomy last November. I’m feeling great and grateful that all of that is in the past.

I’d express how excited I am to see Father John Misty perform next week and admit that, yes, I did invite him to dinner even though I haven’t heard back. I’m persisting in inviting people whose work I enjoy to dinner. Even if it only works one in a hundred times, that 1% makes everything worth it.

Finally, I would wrap my hands around my hot drink and say how sad I am to see cold weather quickly approaching. Warm weather is my favorite weather. And although having a snow blower makes winter more fun, I’d pass on all that fun in a heartbeat for just a little more hot sunshine.

Good morning! #unionstreetcafe #ohiouniversity #athens #athensohio

A photo posted by Kate (@katespointofview) on

My Summer of Fun

I planned on a Summer of Fun. My goal was to stuff a bowl with slips of paper detailing fun and unusual activities throughout the city. I never followed through on that idea, but my Summer of Fun was just that.

I still have two weeks of Summer to pack in some fun, but so far, I’d say I’m doing pretty well. What have you done to make your summer full of fun?

My mom, dad and I visiting the Motown Museum in Detroit, Michigan.

Late to the Table

If I want to play the role of a hipster, I can do my part okay. I reviewed advanced copies of Chutes to Narrow by The Shins and Youth & Young Manhood from the Kings of Leon. I saw the White Stripes play to an audience of maybe 20 people, right before they blew up. I usually have a good eye on what new books and movies are out there. What I want to establish here is this: When it comes to pop-culture consumption, I can hold my own.And yet.

I arrived varying degrees of late to Friday Night Lights, The West Wing, Doc Martin and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. I discovered His Dark Materials long after publication and started the Bones series by Kathy Reichs after she’d already published a good 14 books. Music is a constant game of catch-up so when I’m not actively participating in the conversation, I’m playing like I know what’s up (“They sound familiar. Tell me more.” “Yeah, I think I remember hearing them.”) and hoping you don’t catch on.

Most recently I’ve been trying to catch-up midway through things. At one dinner party everybody was Mad Men this and Mad Men that. On our drive home that evening, Wonder Boy and I made the immediate decision to find out what the show was about. Through a combination of Netflix and on-demand TV, we’ve caught up. We recently did the same with Scandal (!) and I’m in the midst of listening to back-episodes of the Pop Culture Happy Hour and Professor Blastoff podcasts.

In the grand scheme of things, I know none of this matters. But the world in which I circulate is full of pop culture references and I like to keep up. Even where I have the obvious blind spots (Star Wars, LOTR movies, Harry Potter), I can usually follow along in the conversations well enough.

Every day I am sifting through so many things – books, magazines, movies, music, podcasts, articles, blogs, websites, social media… I have to pick and choose and I’m usually pretty confident about the choices I make. And then you attending a dinner party where you (and maybe your date) seem to be the only ones not in the know.

This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.

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