A visit with a favorite author proves this job is cool
From the editor ...
There are days this is just about the coolest job in the world, and today - Sunday, Feb. 24, is one of those days.
Granted, it is a Sunday and I've spent a good portion of my weekend here (Memo to my bosses: Any chance we can get cable television hooked up here?), but in all seriousness, for all the whining journalists do, we get to meet and talk with some mighty interesting people. Or we get to go to some pretty exciting sporting events. Or we check out thought-provoking plays. Or see exhilarating concerts.
A quick aside.
We journalists do whine a lot, but it's because it's part of the training. We take courses like mass communications law and ethics, but before you even get to be a journalist, you must have proof - in triplicate, I might add - that we've taken “Whining 101.”
It is there that we learn the importance of making sure our bosses, our spouses and the rest of the world don't realize how much fun we're usually having.
Now, back, to the regularly scheduled column.
When the Waldorf College academic year began last year, I attended the college's opening convocation, where college officials passed out books written by Da Chen to all the newly arrived freshmen. I snapped a few pictures, listened to the speeches and filed a mental memo that Da Chen might be a story down the road.
Later that week, realizing that it was a “short holiday week” because of Labor Day, I called Waldorf's vice president of academic affairs, Dan Hanson, and asked him if he'd have time to tell me a little about Da Chen, why his books were presented as gifts and why the college was bringing him here to speak in March.
Don't get me wrong, I would have done the story eventually, but at the time I was thinking I had a pretty cool picture of Hanson with one of the books at the convocation and if I had a quick story to go with it, I'd have a jump start on the short week.
Another quick aside.
In journalism, we're always looking for “quick stories.” It's not laziness, I like to tell myself, it's superb time management. Of course, if I have superb time management skills, what am I doing here on a Sunday evening?
Now, once again, back to the regularly scheduled column.
Hanson gave me copies of Da Chen's memoirs - “Colors of the Mountain” and “Sounds of the River” - and urged me to read them.
For once, I actually listened.
I took the books home and began reading them. I was immediately enthralled. They were incredible books on an incredible life led by a boy growing into a young man in Communist China during the Cultural Revolution. One minute, they were breaking my heart; the next, I was laughing so hard my gut hurt.
Da Chen opened my eyes to a world I couldn't imagine - one that not even the best filmmaker could have brought to me. By the time I finished the books, I dang near was counting the days until his arrival in Forest City.
One last aside.
Books are always better than movies. I'm always reminded of the horrible miniseries “The Winds of War” when I bring this subject up. I had read that book a couple of times in high school and couldn't wait to see the miniseries.
So I settled in for the first of a gazillion hours and was almost immediately turned off by the blasphemy on screen. There was Robert Mitchum, playing the patriarch of this American family, standing a head taller than his wife. Wait a minute, I screamed to no one in particular, part of Victor Henry's character was borne by the fact that he was a short, stocky man who was shorter than his wife.
Like I said, books - fiction or non-fiction - are always better and the reason is simple: An author never has to worry about casting directors.
Now, for the last time, back to the regularly scheduled column.
Da Chen called me today, and we talked for more than an hour. When I hung up, I was as excited as say a Green Bay Packer fan would have been if Brett Favre had phoned him.
My favorite author not only called but he talked with me, swapped stories with me and conversed with me like we were old friends. How cool is that?
In a way, I must apologize to the readers. My 692-word story that begins on Page 1 of this edition of the Summit doesn't do Da Chen - or his unbelievable but true story - justice. Go out, find those books and read them this week. If you can't, come to Waldorf on Monday to see him and then go out, find those books and read them.
It's an amazing tale told by whom I think is an amazing author who reminded me once again just how great this job really is.
All in all, this has been a fantastic week, and my friend, Craig Johnson, is probably going to kill me for including him in this column.
As many of you know, Craig received a liver transplant last week, and when I heard the news, the goosebumps made me shiver. Craig has been a big help to my family and me since we moved to Forest City several years ago, but I've also come to appreciate just shooting the breeze with him.
In the past year, I've admired his grit and determination as he struggled with his health. Through it all, he's always given me that mischievous Johnson smile and cracked me up with a joke or two that has brightened even my darkest days.
Since the transplant took place last week, a feeling of gratitude has swept over our community. In my mind, it couldn't have happened to a better person, even if I know that when Craig returns home, I'm going to get that “what-were-you-thinking-about” look he's flashed me from time to time. However, Mr. Johnson, in my defense I didn't use a photo, OK?!
Bob Fenske is the editor of the Forest City Summit. He can be reached by phone at 585-2112 or by e-mail at editor@forestcitysummit.com.
Story created Feb 26, 2008 - 11:40:28 CST.
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