Bryan W. Alaspa 1Sometimes you just have to laugh
December 15th 2009 14:25
People often wonder why I laugh so much. Truth be told, I am not usually aware that I have made a sound that some might consider a laugh. I guess, for me, the world is just something you have to laugh at. People are just something you have to laugh at. If you don’t laugh, you might just start screaming and then never be able to stop.
I had such an experience just this past weekend. As some of you might know, I am an author and writer beyond this blog. I actually make some money as a writer, unlike when I write on this blog which has some mysterious promise of money down the road that has to do with the ads on this thing. I think I might see a dime from this place the moment I drop dead, but that is beside the point.
I had a book come out just last month (November) called “Forgotten Tales of Illinois.” It is a collection of stories of the strange and unique from in and around the state I grew up in. It is an interesting book. It is not a very long book. In short, it would be a perfect stocking stuffer (hint, hint).
I had a book signing set up this past weekend at a Borders. I was excited about it as it was my first signing at a big-chain bookstore. I have done several signings and readings before, but nothing in a big-chain store. Most of the signings and readings I have done were in tiny stores in places like St. Louis and here in Chicago where mostly my family showed up. This would be me signing books during the Christmas rush. I had visions of stardom in my mind.
It just goes to show you that life and the universe in general has a sense of humor. This is why laughing is so important. The universe is spending a tremendous amount of time laughing at us, why should we not laugh right back?
I showed up already in the hole because I felt awful. Last week I started to come down with some kind of horrific head cold or sinus infection or some combination thereof. The last thing I wanted to do was get up on Saturday and put on nice clothes and sit behind a table and look pleasant. I wanted to curl up under a blanket, high on cold medicine, and make little mewling noises like a wounded animal.
Still, I decided it was too great an opportunity to pass up on and I got dressed and headed down into the city. I found a Borders that was in chaos. The Christmas season looked like it has strafed the store rather than made it a pleasant holiday destination. There were books on the floor. There was no table set up for a signing. I also checked the shelves and found no copies of the book I was there to sign on the shelves. The alarm bells began going off in my head.
Before long a makeshift table and chair set up was arranged. I sat next to a man who also writes for the same publisher and his table was piled high with his books. I had two copies of the book I was not there to promote. I was told, again and again, that there were copies of the Forgotten Tales book, but that they were in storage somewhere. I began to imagine that this store had the world’s largest storage space.
Eventually, I was told there were no copies. I had nothing to sign. I sighed. I felt feverish. I laughed.
Sometimes you just have to laugh. When you are having your own “Spinal Tap” moment, there is really nothing else to do.
I had such an experience just this past weekend. As some of you might know, I am an author and writer beyond this blog. I actually make some money as a writer, unlike when I write on this blog which has some mysterious promise of money down the road that has to do with the ads on this thing. I think I might see a dime from this place the moment I drop dead, but that is beside the point.
I had a book come out just last month (November) called “Forgotten Tales of Illinois.” It is a collection of stories of the strange and unique from in and around the state I grew up in. It is an interesting book. It is not a very long book. In short, it would be a perfect stocking stuffer (hint, hint).
I had a book signing set up this past weekend at a Borders. I was excited about it as it was my first signing at a big-chain bookstore. I have done several signings and readings before, but nothing in a big-chain store. Most of the signings and readings I have done were in tiny stores in places like St. Louis and here in Chicago where mostly my family showed up. This would be me signing books during the Christmas rush. I had visions of stardom in my mind.
It just goes to show you that life and the universe in general has a sense of humor. This is why laughing is so important. The universe is spending a tremendous amount of time laughing at us, why should we not laugh right back?
Still, I decided it was too great an opportunity to pass up on and I got dressed and headed down into the city. I found a Borders that was in chaos. The Christmas season looked like it has strafed the store rather than made it a pleasant holiday destination. There were books on the floor. There was no table set up for a signing. I also checked the shelves and found no copies of the book I was there to sign on the shelves. The alarm bells began going off in my head.
Before long a makeshift table and chair set up was arranged. I sat next to a man who also writes for the same publisher and his table was piled high with his books. I had two copies of the book I was not there to promote. I was told, again and again, that there were copies of the Forgotten Tales book, but that they were in storage somewhere. I began to imagine that this store had the world’s largest storage space.
Eventually, I was told there were no copies. I had nothing to sign. I sighed. I felt feverish. I laughed.
Sometimes you just have to laugh. When you are having your own “Spinal Tap” moment, there is really nothing else to do.
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