LeBron
I have spent the better part of the day, attempting to get LeBron James' autograph in a book that he *wrote*. Leah, my sister has turned into a fan-girl for him. So, this is one of her Christmas gifts...a very costly one quite frankly. I made a special trip up here for this signing. I had to get up at 5 this morning, which is ungodly, to get to the Borders where the signing will take place. I was here before 6am and the doors to Borders did not open until 9am to start selling the books, to get the much needed bracelet to even have a *chance* to get his signature.
It was cold this morning. I brough one of my folding chairs, and marked my place, which was already halfway around the shoping plaza. It was still dark. You couldn't see enough to read. But I will say, I was in awe at the community that began to form in line. People looking out for other people's stuff -- so there could be food/potty runs. Talking about what brought us to this signing. One woman was getting a book signed to have auctioned off at a charity benefit for her neice who was killed in a car accident a year ago. She's an artist in Cleveland. The guy on the other side of my run his own limo service and drives people like Cedric the Entertainer and Ron Jeremy around town. But he heard about the other woman's charity event and offered to get something together for the auction. We bemoaned the loss of Cleveland Indians' loss of great players. Worried about the possible defection of LeBron to New York. Discussed the way people thought that the signing would be done: will LeBron shoot the shit with them etc.
But really, even when the line started to move to buy the books, to get the bracelets, the community didn't stop. The woman ahead of me, needed a hand, and the guy beside me helped. The people ahead of us, made sure that because we were slower on the uptake...because of the other lady's stuff, that no one jumped in line. We looked after each other. The lady and I, after getting our books, even went and had breakfast together! I suppose after 3 hrs in line with folks, that can happen.
But it makes me wonder, if 300 strangers could do this for a stupid autograph, why can't this happen around larger issues of health care and other social issues?
I am VERY tired. On the one hand, I am very excited about *seeing* LeBron, but this will be an assembly line. We won't even get to shake hands and it will be unlikely that he will even make eyecontact with anyone. I'm excited because he doesn't do appearences really...not like this...so the books that will be signed, will be worth A LOT of money. Upper Deck will even be here to authenticate the signatures and give certificates. Maybe my student loan folks will take a book as a payment?! But all of this money, for a signature causes me pause. There were people walking up and down the line offering 100 bucks for a signed copy this evening. I mean, wow. I could use a 100 bucks...but they will be worth much more than that. All of this hoopla and we can't pass healthcare reform. What the heck??
Wish me luck in getting the autograph...Leah is going to die!
It was cold this morning. I brough one of my folding chairs, and marked my place, which was already halfway around the shoping plaza. It was still dark. You couldn't see enough to read. But I will say, I was in awe at the community that began to form in line. People looking out for other people's stuff -- so there could be food/potty runs. Talking about what brought us to this signing. One woman was getting a book signed to have auctioned off at a charity benefit for her neice who was killed in a car accident a year ago. She's an artist in Cleveland. The guy on the other side of my run his own limo service and drives people like Cedric the Entertainer and Ron Jeremy around town. But he heard about the other woman's charity event and offered to get something together for the auction. We bemoaned the loss of Cleveland Indians' loss of great players. Worried about the possible defection of LeBron to New York. Discussed the way people thought that the signing would be done: will LeBron shoot the shit with them etc.
But really, even when the line started to move to buy the books, to get the bracelets, the community didn't stop. The woman ahead of me, needed a hand, and the guy beside me helped. The people ahead of us, made sure that because we were slower on the uptake...because of the other lady's stuff, that no one jumped in line. We looked after each other. The lady and I, after getting our books, even went and had breakfast together! I suppose after 3 hrs in line with folks, that can happen.
But it makes me wonder, if 300 strangers could do this for a stupid autograph, why can't this happen around larger issues of health care and other social issues?
I am VERY tired. On the one hand, I am very excited about *seeing* LeBron, but this will be an assembly line. We won't even get to shake hands and it will be unlikely that he will even make eyecontact with anyone. I'm excited because he doesn't do appearences really...not like this...so the books that will be signed, will be worth A LOT of money. Upper Deck will even be here to authenticate the signatures and give certificates. Maybe my student loan folks will take a book as a payment?! But all of this money, for a signature causes me pause. There were people walking up and down the line offering 100 bucks for a signed copy this evening. I mean, wow. I could use a 100 bucks...but they will be worth much more than that. All of this hoopla and we can't pass healthcare reform. What the heck??
Wish me luck in getting the autograph...Leah is going to die!