For my 46th birthday, as a present from some friends, I went to see David Sedaris read from his latest essays on his book tour. I laughed so hard my face hurt the next day. I didn’t realize how much I liked him until I heard his voice. It suits him, and the idea of him I had made up in my head. I heard that voice read to me as I made my way through “When You Are Engulfed In Flames” (his latest book which I also got for my birthday). In response to our present economy I had just been telling my 13 year old son that he should be a bum or hobo for Halloween. So I was already identifying with him in the beginning chapters. But it was the part in the “Crybaby” chapter when he talks about laughter at the dinner table over his Grandmother’s flatulence that did it for me. I sat there on my bed reading/laughing as if I was at a party having already consumed a glass of wine (or two). I was at that table. I had a big family growing up and Grandmother that lived with us. I had been there. I remember how much trouble we would be in for our immaturity, but we just kept laughing…hard! We couldn’t help ourselves (like laughing in church). What a great memory. Silly yes, but if that’s what I got from this book…I say, “thanks David” for taking me there for my birthday.
