Crop Dusting with David Sedaris

Went down to the Allen Theater at Playhouse Square last night with a group of friends – Liam, Deanna, Collette and Erin – and saw David Sedaris in concert last night. He read excerpts from his writings, then took questions from the audience and did a signing afterwards. We waited in line for three hours after the show to get his autograph! (As a bonus, we each got a little drawing.)

I was first introduced to David Sedaris on a compilation CD from This American Life, but it was my friend Liam who really got me hooked when he loaned me his book When You Are Engulfed in Flames. David Sedaris writes what I would describe as slice-of-life essays from his own humorous, perhaps slightly skewed, perspective. Ultimately what one gets from his stories is reassurance because we are all slightly skewed! Not to mention a lot of laughs.

Perhaps one of the funnier anecdotes he shared was that of an airline stewardess, who told Sedaris that one of the natural side effects for the human body at higher altitudes was gas. To cope with this, the stewardesses would each take turns walking up and down the aisle of the plane, quietly releasing gas among the passengers. They called this "crop dusting."

And to add a totally bizarre twist, while I was getting my book signed, Sedaris looked over my shoulder at Liam and asked, "Have we met before? Do I know you from somewhere?" Liam had another book signed by him THREE YEARS AGO. But he remembered. Amazing.

To hear audio of David Sedaris on NPR, click here.

Thanks to Cruise Director Liam for getting us tickets!