Thursday, June 29, 2006

hobnobbing

So I ran into Armistead Maupin the other day. Literally.

At least that's what I told my sister when I called her a few minutes later. I told her that we'd collided, and I'd said excuse me, and that a carful of men had ridden past in a converable, singing the 'lonely goatherd' song from The Sound of Music. This, I told her, was the reason I lived in the Castro. Stuff like this happens all the time.

In reality, there was a good three-foot saftey zone between the Armistead and I. We made passing eye contact, if even that. He was looking over something that looked like a bill, and I was regretting my shirt-choice and realizing I was late to work. No words were spoken, no limbs intertwined or even bumped. I didn't see the 'lonely goatherd' men until I went around the corner. Mary? Forgive me. I lied. I embellished.

But that's what writers do. We make the truth better. How do I know (well, besides the fact that I've been exaggerating since I learned how to talk)? Armistead told me (and a roomful of other writers) tonight, at the Novel Writing and Publshing Seminar at 826 Valencia. So there.

10 comments:

seester said...

Aw, man! I loved that story!! I was going to go and feel all betrayed and stuff, but I'm actually kind of relieved that that kind of stuff doesn't actually happen every day.

Was the "Lonely Goatherd" part true?

Y'know what? I'd rather not know...and if Armistead says it's ok...I guess it's fine by me.

seester said...

ok...rereading (I do teach that skill)...I see that you already 'fessed up about the goatherders...ok. I'm slowly coming to terms with all of this.

sigh.

By the way, I lied about something that I told you, too, but I'm not telling what it was.

Nora said...

No no! The goatherd men were real. And I did tell him when I saw him at the seminar that he was resposible for my biceps. I am dedicated to the truthful recounting of events... for the most part, anyway.

Nora said...

Oop! Seesterly overlap.

seester said...

wow...blogging in real time.

eep.

Nora said...

We're like tweedledum and tweedledee all over again... Crazybird! Crazybird!

Nora said...

Wait... what'd you lie about?

Hmpf.

momeester said...

and before you know it, there is your mother asking you to be nice to each other.

Nora said...

She started it.

seester said...

did not. (times a google)