Date With Myself ~ This American Life LIVE!

This article is dedicated to Warren (who was to have been my date) and myself (who turned out to be a damned fine date).

I had been waiting for a very long time for May 1st to come. 

On May 1st, This American Life (my all time favorite radio program) was going to do a live event.  At first, I mistakenly thought that Ira Glass (host of This American Life) was coming to my town....thus the tickets being sold for This American Life LIVE!  But alas it was not to be, it was instead a live feed.  Upon discovering this, my intended date lost interest as did I.  But as the May 1st date approached.....I got more excited about it.....and curious.....and intrigued.  By Wednesday, I was teetering on the edge and on Thursday, I bought the $20 ticket.

Ira.....should you ever read this article.....that is something I wish I could have asked.  What did the $20 ticket price go towards.  I hope that some of it went to NPR....maybe it went to production costs?  I cannot know.  More about this later.

The funny thing is all day I am hyperexcited about going.  I was worried I wouldn't get a ticket.  There were plenty.

It is kind of weird being a This American Life fan. 

1 - It is on National Public Radio.

I am a NPR junkie.  I love NPR.  But sometimes I feel as though I am part of this secret society.  I think people who listen to NPR are very passionate about it.  Pledge at all the fund drives.   Wish they had cool names that don't quite seem to go together yet sound so cool.  My favorite is Snick Paprikash.....which isn't really her name....it is just how it sounds to my untrained ear.  I so want to be her or Silvia Pagogli.  But anyone else who doesn't listen.....they look at you strangely.  And trying to explain the beauty of Public Radio......it just makes it worse.  I like programs that let me drawn my own conclusions as well as assume that I have half a brain.   See....you are looking at me strangely already aren't you.

2 - It is a weekly series.....on the radio.

Who isn't glued to their TV 24 hours a day?  Well....me.  I have only recently seen American Idol very recently.....and I guess the theme is cool.....but all the pre-fabricated drama has me wanting to stab out my eyes and break my TV.  I used to love Project Runway to see the designs......but even that is chock full of canned drama.  I just don't like watching anymore.  Until.....maybe now......(info to follow)

3 - This American Life.....it is hard to explain in a short sentence....

But I think I finally got it.  It is like adult storytime.  No....even that is sorely lacking.  Basically it is like this.  In a world of overblown drama and social stratisfication.....it reminds me that I am human and that I am possible.   During the program....there was this story about these kids who ride horses in Philadelphia.....in the city and in the park.  One kid says, and I am paraphrasing.....that most people look at celebrity and wants to knpw what they are doing, what are they doing.  Now that he rides thru Philly on a horse.  People want to know what he is doing.  I want that life.  People interest me....but I want to be interesting as well.  I don't wish to ride a horse through Philadelphia....but I will find my own way.  And This American Life is full of stories of people finding their own way.....negotiating this thing called life.  It reminds me that there are layers and dimensions.  I actually didn't need reminding.....I just needed proof for my hypothesis.  

But try to explain that one to your friends.  So This American Life is like my little hole in the wall restaurant.  All broken looking and dusty on the outside.  But inside in full of flavor and savor.....and no long lines.  But I wonder if it will remain that way.

So anyway.....I find myself at the theatre.....and I am incredibly curious.  Incredibly excited.  Looking around at the crowd.  Two girls sat beside me equally as jubilant.  They asked me what I was doing....and I said in a hushed tone of voice.  I just want to see the people.  I want to see the people who share this program with me.  What do they look like?  Do I look like them?  Do I not?  Who are we and where do we come from?  This is a great opportunity.

They agreed...and soon they are looking around....and someone asked us why we were looking around.......and then they too were scanning the crowd.  It was a strange weird cool moment.

I confided to the girl next to me that I was excited to see Ira Glass on the screen.  I have had this serious crush on his voice.  I don't think I am the first to be turned out by a voice on the radio.  (Actually there is a program about this.....  )  But now I see him.....and he looks like  my dad when he was younger.   I get that icky, gross Electra feeling wash over me. ......*shudder*........so that was that.  And I think that by dad's voice is better.  But Ira.....don't be hurt.....it is only because he is my dad.  I still heart you.  I just can't have an icky crush on you anymore.  I know your wife will be pleased. 

So basically the program was kind of hawking their 2nd season of this American Life.  And I go thru some emotions:

1.  I LIKE This American Life on the Radio

There is nothing like it on the radio.  I don't want it to leave.....because there would be this huge radio hole vortex thing.  I would be horribly sad.  But Ira assures me this isn't going to happen.  I am holding you to that Ira.

2.  How will the stories translate to TV?

I thought it couldn't happen.  I thought that half the beauty of This American Life was that you make it up in your own mind....conceptualize the story if you will.....in your own mind.  Pictures might wreck the stories!  I didn't even watch the first season because I wasn't sure.  But I subscribed to Showtime for this show.....because I am curious.

After attending This American Life LIVE!  I know something now.  That TV won't be better.  It won't be worse.  It is like having a new baby in the family.  At first you are frightened.  You worry that you can't possibly love that one as much as you have the first.  It is quite stressful.  You are confused, upset....but you know that you signed up for this thing.....you just have to give it a go.  Then it is born.....and you see that your love and joy has been expanded twofold.  It is a wonder, a joy to behold.......not because it is the same as the first.  But because.....it is different.  And it takes on a new view.  It is stunning not because it is more or less than the first.....but it makes your family better, more expanded, you are one more strong.

I urge you to subscribe to Showtime and see this series.  You will be better for it.  If you are unwilling to go that route and you have never heard This American Life before you can listen to a Podcast, order an episode on Audible, listen online, or check out your local NPR station.

Today's news is like eating M&Ms.  Small and easy to digest.  Bright Colorful and Catching to the Eye.

But this American Life.....it is like eating a very expensive dark chocolate truffle.  Doesn't look like much on the outside....until you take a bite.  Beautiful.  

I don't care how......I don't care why.....Nor it what form......radio or TV.......please...try it.

More than a being a great program.....it makes you proud to be an American.  It dissects what it means to live in this America.  There is good, bad, ugly about all of us.  And it is there......

I can say no more on that.....you just have to check it out for yourself...(I can feel you looking at me strangely again.) 

THIS AMERICAN LIFE    I recommend the show titled 'Babysitting' but there is something for everyone there.  Take a look.

Anything that makes you pay $20 to watch their 2 hour infommercial....and you walk away.....and sleep on  it.....and you can't be mad at it.  It is worth the look.