Sure, I strike a stoic pose, but I'd much rather run my mouth! Just ask any co-worker who's chuckled in passing at one of my lame jokes, only to have me stand over their desk dribbling out schtick. I can't help it! I come from a long line of smack-talkers - from my prodigal Father ( a gifted raconteur) to my Mother's brother, who never met a smart remark he didn't share with the room. It's biological, I tells ya! In my first crack at tenth grade, I was voted 'Wittiest' in the yearbook - before dedicating my high school years to the pursuit of truancy. When I did make it to class, I often entertained, but usually blew it by never knowing when to simply. shut. up. Yes, I've grown more adroit at controlling my tongue over the years, but the times I've driven home asking myself, "Why, WHY did you say THAT?"... well, I don't wanna talk about it. Now that I'm well into my 40's I find that I'm better about censoring my speech - even if I care less than ever what people think. Credit my Mom for raising me Southern...All of which makes this evening something of a victory, for I remained mum when a younger me would have spouted bromides at length. It came late in the day, when - covering for a fellow photog who'd contracted the funk - I telephoned a young, attractive reporter to tell her I'd be taking over for him on tomorrow's franchise shoot. "Ooooh," she paused on the other end of the line, "We usually try to fancy those pieces up. Maybe YOU can shoot it and HE can edit them." Her words hung there in the car as I sped homeward, thinking of all the different kinds of local news I'd cranked out over the years, the half hour specials I'd produced on the subject at hand, the cheesy re-creations and melodramatic editing techniques I'd set aside when she was unpacking her sandwich in some junior high lunchroom...
"Yeah, that's fine." I said before bidding her adieu and dropping the phone in my lap.
Some conversations, I've (finally) learned, just aren't worth having.
7 comments:
Endless Credit to you for biting your toungue. I'd have told them "Well, I'll let you shoot it on your own if you don't feel I'm quite qualified."
Or in the words of my chief "Ya know... This aint my first Rodeo."
can't believe you didn't take that one out of the park. must have been a good day.
nice shot of you up top. who does your hair?
You should have offered to write the piece.
So you didn't feel put in your place?
Thanks for that story...I needed a pick me up right at that point...grin!
Stew, I loved that line..."when she was unpacking her sandwich in some junior high lunchroom..." I've had my share of 'em too!!
Rick
Cut her some slack. Consider where she is from!
I'm with anonymous. I haven't worked with anyone who would actually say that to the photog. I've heard them ask the desk, but not the photog.
Could she have come up with a better way of challenging you to creatively shoot her in the worst light?
It's like someone telling her she's prettier on tv.
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