Oh, you were a vampire and, baby, I'm walking dead...
Is it really going against the status quo to do something nice for a person in this day and age?
Last night, despite leaving work early because I was sick (and am still home sick today), I trekked in to my fave book seller, Anderson's Bookshop, in Naperville for a signing by the famed Anne Rice. Yes, she of The Vampire Chronicles fame, was in the 'burbs signing books and promoting her new novel, Christ the Lord.
Well, in all honesty, it was more "signing" and less "promoting" ironically enough. You would think that there would be a big push on the book and her talking about it to lend it some credence. Alas, she did not. They had plenty of the book on hand and the requirement was that if you want her to sign copies of her past books, you must purchase a copy of Christ the Lord and have it signed as well. That was pretty much it for promotional push. She never spoke word one to the audience as a whole. Over 200 people showed up and she said squat. Both Ted Allen and David Sedaris had pretty nice speeches and Q&A sessions. Heck, Sedaris even read a couple of stories he had just written. Yet, not even a Q&A for Ms. Rice. C'est la vie.
If I had known there would be no pre-show, I would've waited away from everyone else in order to keep from spreading my diseased aura to the masses. However, since we didn't know she wouldn't be speaking until just before she came out, I had positioned myself as close to the front table as possible.
To anyone who comes down with a sinus infection, my heartfelt apologies; but I was not missing this signing.
My only intent was to pick up her new book for signing. It sounds interesting as it is Rice's take on the missing years between Christ's childhood and adulthood. Not quite like Christopher Moore's perception, I'm sure. But I would think it would be interesting, all the same.
When they finally got around to calling me up in line (I was #166 of 200+ people waiting), I was in line behind a girl roughly my age who had a paperback copy of one of Rice's books to sign. When she got up to one of the Anderson's staffers, they informed her that it was unlikely that Rice would sign that book without having a copy of CtL to sign as well. The girl was upset as she had been waiting nearly an hour and a half and was having the book signed for her boss. The staffer told her to wait anyway as Rice may change her mind.
I turned to the staffer and asked, "Rice will sign paperbacks so long as you have the new book to sign, too, right?"
She said, "yes."
I pointed to the girl in front of me who was also looking back at me curiously regarding my question as I clearly had no paperbacks to have signed, and I held out my hand to take her copy of the book. Both realized at the same time what it was I was offering to do and were immediately grateful. The girl kept saying "thank you so much" while the staffer said "that is so sweet of you." Both comments were made with a tone of voice that made it readily apparent that what I was doing was not the normal thing you encounter from your fellow human being.
All I was doing was ensuring that her book would be signed. Is this really all that big a deal? Is our world really that numb to common decency that making the offer that I did is deemed that grandiose a gesture?
I'm really happy that I was able to make her day the way I did. But, in all honesty, it just struck me as the decent thing to do. Nothing more, nothing less.
Now if only I had her e-mail address... she snapped some digital shots and I forgot my camera at home. Dangit!
I've met Anne Rice at two signings... one of which she spoke at. She is one freaky lady... both times I felt as though she was looking right through me with spooky supernatural sight of some kind.
Posted by: Dave2 | Tuesday, 15 November 2005 at 01:00 PM
I hate to say it but yeah, I think being spontaneously nice to total strangers is becoming pretty rare. Sad, isn't it?
I'm curious to know what you think of the book.
Posted by: SJ | Tuesday, 15 November 2005 at 03:56 PM
OH! And, EXCELLENT choice for your title today!!!
Posted by: SJ | Tuesday, 15 November 2005 at 03:57 PM
You are such a sweetie! It is nice of you to share your compassion with the world!
Posted by: kilax | Tuesday, 15 November 2005 at 09:48 PM
Anne Rice probably is a vampire. How would she have so much insight and knowledge? (don't answer that, i like thinking she's a vampire. I don't want to be proven wrong.)
Good on you for the good deed. It's amazing how something so small and easy to do can make someones day.
Posted by: Johnny C. | Wednesday, 16 November 2005 at 07:57 AM
Well, the comments left so far would lead me to believe one thing... I am a freak. But we all knew that already, didn't we?
Dave, never had the chance to find out if she had that stare or not as she pretty much only said "hi" and "thanks for coming." Then looked down to sign the book. But I can believe that about her.
SJ, very sad. I probably won't get to the book for a bit yet as I'm behind as it is with books. I have a backlog of three James Patterson books, one Harry Potter, and another. May have to force this one in there somewhere as I am intrigued. I knew you'd like the title. Very a propos, eh?
Kilax, thanks!
Johnny, hence the title of the post... she's the vampire and I (because of my illness) am the walking dead. It is amazing how big a difference a small thing like that can make.
Posted by: Kevin | Wednesday, 16 November 2005 at 10:22 AM
I love random acts of kindness. Love them. You're a good egg Kevin.
Posted by: Alissa | Wednesday, 16 November 2005 at 11:08 AM
You made someone's day - how great does that feel?!
Posted by: sandra | Wednesday, 16 November 2005 at 12:47 PM
I guess, in retrospect, that it does feel pretty good to have done it. Never thought of it like that as it was happening, though.
Posted by: Kevin | Wednesday, 16 November 2005 at 02:34 PM
And that right there is what proves you are a genuinely good person, Kevin. It's instinctive to you to be kind.
Posted by: SJ | Wednesday, 16 November 2005 at 03:46 PM
Wait. I just read your comment on kilax's blog. I take back everything nice I said about you, you brat!
Actually, I'm quite comfortable with my age. Considering the alternative, I'm happy to be alive and healthy and still have most of my hair. Which is more than you can say, dude! :>b
(you SO asked for that . . .)
Posted by: SJ | Wednesday, 16 November 2005 at 03:56 PM
Yes, I did ask for it. And I was expecting it and I would've been disappointed had you not replied like that! ;-)
Heh heh.
Posted by: Kevin | Wednesday, 16 November 2005 at 04:30 PM