BitterSweetLife

Last week, this blog almost went syndicate.

Kansas City Star reporter Andrea Lorenz contacted me via email, and asked if I’d be willing to do an interview for a feature article on blogging. She said BitterSweetLife had attracted her interest with its hip yet realistic, sophisticated yet lucid, profound yet laugh-out-loud content. Actually, she found the blog on a search engine. But why split hairs?

I gave the interview request careful thought, and then left a memo for my people to call her people. Actually, she and I played email tag. But you get the point. Email tag progressed to phone tag, and this went on for a couple days.

Finally, we had a real-time conversation, but it was too late—the article deadline had already passed. Andrea had been forced to dig up a replacement blogger. However, sensing the surreality of the moment, she offered me a consolation prize—a feature article on “How I Survive Substitute Teaching.” I replied with a conclusive “Well, OK.”

Yesterday, the interview took place over the phone. From the comfort of my own futon, I tried to convey a convincing picture of the Subbing Life, inserting not-so-subliminal blog references wherever possible. I wish I could say it went off flawlessly, but I’m afraid Andrea will have to deal with some duplicate content and that dreaded plague of casual conversation—the ums.

Back in my tenure as reporter and then Editor-in-Chief at the Johnson County Community College Ledger, I did countless interviews. Unfortunately, not many people interviewed me. My knack for spot-on, spontaneous commentary is still developing. This, among other reasons, is why I turn down most of the numerous interview requests this blog generates.*

At what price, fame? I’ll just have to wait and see how this pans out.

* No, no, not really. If I had 'em I wouldn't trash 'em.