Thank you, David Sedaris

I am late to David Sedaris. Why? Oh, because I live under a rock. I am just now finishing Me Talk Pretty One Day. As Deanna commented earlier, I am a slow reader. Not because I'm stupid, mind you, but because I am easily distracted by random things, shiney or not. I also read six books at a time. ADD? Yeah, thanks! I'll have some!

So, there I am on the couch, peacefully reading along when I get to the chapter "Remember My Childhood on the Continent of Africa." The whole chapter seems incredibly familiar as if I've experienced it before. Then I realize. Oh. My. God. I have! The chapter is all about his boyfriend, Hugh, whose dad was in the State Department and they lived for a while in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Yeah. My ex-husband's dad was in the State Department and he lived for a while in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Of course, he knew Hugh. As a matter of fact, my former sister-in-law, Chris, and Hugh were BFF.

So, it occurs to me that David Sedaris may also be in possession of a box of ugly. I am wondering if all State Department families who choose to live in places like Ethiopia, Bolivia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Nepal and Peru all have a collection of "global junk" as my dad referred to it. You know, the native item that is as ugly as homemade sin but, god damn it, it came from FILL IN THE BLANK MAD-LIB STYLE WITH THE NAME OF A RANDOM FOREIGN COUNTRY. No one else will ever appreciate the item as no one knows what the hell it is as they'll never travel to said country.

I wonder if David Sedaris has had the same thoughts I have had as he stares at a 12'x12' Alpaca rug that was really necessary in Ethiopia as Hugh had concrete floors in his house as well, I'm sure but seems just a tad odd anywhere else. And, frankly, it stinks like shit, is 30 years old and stained. But, by god, do you know how much Alpaca rugs cost these days? Has Hugh's family come to their house and insisted that they hang over the fireplace the big huge Bolivian tapestry that looks like a 3rd grader drew a stick figure dragon with a big red?

I loved the fact that he saw Hugh's childhood the exact same way I saw my ex-huband's. Totally fascinating that he couldn't get home some nights because they had bombed the road or how they had three large Ethiopian body guards walk them to school every day. That and having nothing to comtribute to the family gathering discussions because you have no idea what it's like to puke your guts out from eating green meat while hiking the Himalayas. So, thank you, David. I don't feel remotely alone anymore. I feel you brother. And tell Hugh that Chris says hi...

Comments

[Don't Eat My Buchela!]

HA! That was a funny read especially because I AM Ethiopian.

[Don't Eat My Buchela!]

Oh and David Sedaris is hilarious. Have you caught him on This American Life? His books are wonderful but he is even funnier when you hear him read excerpts out loud.

If you go to www.thislife.org I think you can find some of his pieces there. It is through this NPR show I first came to hear of him.

[Vanessa]

I HAVE to check that out! I have seen him on Letterman and I swear I nearly peed my pants laughing.

By the way, I DO love ethiopian food though!

[Heather]

First, I am so sorry that you are late to David's work - he is one of my absolute favorites! His sister Amy is hysterical too.

Second, I am truly jealous that you have a mini-connection to him.

I'm more than jealous. I'm seething with envy.

:)

[Vanessa]

I KNOW! There are only two degrees between David Sedaris and I! Or is it 3? AND, Amy called my friend Deanna a loser at a book thing. So there's 1 (or two, I don't get it...) between she and I! Check my shit OUT!

[Becky]

He makes me laugh. And I've only seen him on Letterman too. Same with Sarah Vowell (and the Letterman thing). I just finished her Assassination Vacation and will start on her Partly Cloudy Patriot soon.

[Sara]

I'm a new Sedaris reader too. Nothing like reading a little dysfunction to make you feel welcome.