Annabelle Gurwitch and Lisa Birnbach
Every week I try and scour my brain to find five good things – just five! Not six or 12. Five things that make my life better. You might be surprised to learn that most weeks it is a huge burden, a chore, a dreaded proposition. Every sentient adult I know has struggles, and one thing good about this moment at the end of this decade is that we are so much more willing to be open about them.
This past week the great things flew into my head and out on the page. What a pleasure.
My guest this week is the hilarious author of the new book “I see you made an effort”, Annabelle Gurwitch. Not only do I love her book cover, I love her!
But first, here are the 5 things that made my life better this week.
1. Photo booth picture strips. I can’t believe I’ve never spoken to you about photo booths. I’ve loved them my whole life. Seeing one in a bowling alley as a child was about the most exciting thing ever. When I was a young woman of 22 traveling the country on my first book tour, I found a photo booth in the IDS Center Crystal Court in Minneapolis – the same exact mall where Mary Richards rode the escalator in the later seasons of the Mary Tyler Moore Show. I couldn’t have been happier. Anyway, I never miss a chance to pose in them. And normally I am someone semi-uncomfortable posing for pictures.
2. Paper Mate mechanical pencils. If you knew how many pages of my date book – yes, that’s right, and I’m not apologizing --were covered with the crossing-outs of appointments and arrows to move things from one day to another, you too would write things down in pencil. But as an adult woman I cannot carry a normal pencil around – where could I find a sharpener outside of a classroom anymore? So I write most dates down in pencil, and then erase them when they’re cancelled. And the bright orange plastic pencil is easy to find in my dark bag.
3. David Byrne and American Utopia. How do I love David Byrne and his band The Talking Heads? Let me count the ways. I love how his singing voice swoops. I love how he tilts when he dances, almost to a precarious level (not to mention his core must be strong). His speaking voice surprised me, as he narrated the show – with its warmth and ordinariness. American Utopia is and isn’t just a concert; it has ambitions. It has morals. It has a beginning and an end. It has great musicianship. (The dancing musicians/ the singing dancers/ the nimble percussionists are thrilling to watch.). I urge you to see it if you can. (David Byrne, a naturalized American who was born in Scotland, has voter registration forms and helpers posted just outside the theater, if you need to sign up.)
4. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, the model of a civil servant. The modesty, straightforwardness of her answers. Her decades of experience in statecraft. Her poise. Her willingness to participate in this moment where our democracy hinges on the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Her willingness to do so knowing that it would make her even more of a target of this administration – I have nothing but the utmost respect for her. https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/yovanovitch-marie-l
5. Ambassador Bill Taylor, a former ambassador to the Ukraine was also the model of decorum and trustworthiness. As my friend Micki says, he offered “no snark,” “was not threatened;” He behaved “just like a diplomat.” It’s Americans like these who embody patriotism. When he spoke it felt reassuring. Simply put, these career State Department officers are so humble and so brave. Thank you.
Author Gurwitch - publicity credit: David Stewart
My Guest this week is Annabelle Gurwitch, whom I first noticed on air in the 1990s as co-host of an old movie franchise called “Dinner and a Movie” on TBS. She seemed a lot more…. like me – I was going to say “normal,” but who’d buy that – than other female TV hosts. For one thing, she was brunette. For another, she wore glasses. (This was long before Tina Fey.). When I read that she wrote humorous essays, I bought them. We happened to meet several weeks ago, when we both read stories at a storytelling event. Not only do I find her hilarious, she’s pretty brilliant as well.
Annabelle’s 5 Things:
1. Finally accepted that her car will never be clean.
2. Grandmother’s gold Jack LaLanne 40th anniversary membership ring.
3. Mac DeMarco’s cover of James Taylor’s I Was A Fool To Care.
4. Showtime’s TV series On Becoming A God in Central Florida.
5. Meghan Daum’s book, The Problem With Everything.
More about Annabelle Gurwitch
Website: www.annabellegurwitch.com — https://www.annabellegurwitch.com/
Facebook: @annabellegurwitchauthor — https://www.facebook.com/annabellegurwitchauthor/
Twitter: @AnnabelGurwitch — https://twitter.com/AnnabelGurwitch
Annabell’s New Book: “I See You Made An Effort” By Annabelle Gurwitch - https://www.annabellegurwitch.com/i-see-you-made-an-effort
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