More On DFW*

(23:48:52) raggedcompany: rough patch: dfw, and the osu loss
(23:49:01) ditriech: ..yeah. it really was, sadly^sd1
(23:49:13) ditriech: doing well. reading lots of DFW now
(23:52:02) raggedcompany: that's a surprise
(23:52:13) ditriech: indeed.
(23:52:31) ditriech: plus, there are probably more DFW tributes coming on cofabg. it was hard on us all.^sd2
(23:52:57) raggedcompany: did i ever tell about how i met him very briefly?
(23:53:01) ditriech: no
(23:53:22) raggedcompany: it was at commencement
(23:53:47) raggedcompany: i had to find a reason to be allowed to remain on campus for that senior week, so i got a job as a commencement worker
(23:53:58) raggedcompany: stuffed envelopes, gave directions to parents, etc.
(23:54:18) raggedcompany: if you remember, i also led the procession, carrying some flag
(23:54:31) ditriech: yes
(23:54:45) raggedcompany: i was dressed as i imagine altar boys dress
(23:55:31) raggedcompany: after the ceremony, i was milling around near the chapel on middle path, and DFW and Sergei Lobanov-Rostovsky walked by
(23:56:14) raggedcompany: i don't remember the exact exchange, but i said something like, "most commencement speeches are boring and kind of suck, but you really gave a good speech"
(23:56:46) raggedcompany: DFW's response was kind of odd: he seemed genuinely flattered, but also a little uncomfortable
(23:57:41) raggedcompany: he said something like--and this is a paraphrase but one that is as close to his exact words as i can remember--"um, thanks. i appreciate that. good job, um, carrying the flag."
(23:58:40) raggedcompany: it was like he felt it was too much for him to receive a compliment without giving one out, even in half-jest
(23:59:29) raggedcompany: i don't mean to make it out into some overly meaningful story, but it left me with the impression of somebody who both appreciated and was made very uncomfortable by praise
(23:59:39) raggedcompany: that's the whole story
(23:59:47) ditriech: ...
(23:59:54) ditriech: yeah, so you know I'm posting this right?
(9/22/2008 00:00:01) raggedcompany: i figured
(00:00:30) raggedcompany: it's weird, before last week, i had only ever read an article he wrote for the atlantic monthly
(00:00:51) raggedcompany: i just read an article he wrote for harpers on usage
(00:02:19) raggedcompany: though i haven't read much of his stuff, it made me really sad when i found out
(00:02:55) raggedcompany:i think my sadness had much more to do with the way he treated me when i met him

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*: Granted, I know that this should probably be staffed, and under most circumstances it would, but this is basically RC's story, so he gets the post. Besides, he hasn't written one yet.

sd1: Not sadly in a bad way mind you, more sadly because of the juxtaposition of the two. Actually, I don't really know how to explain it. Carry on.

sd2: Could be projecting, but I'd be willing to say that DFW was our collective favorite author. Like if you sat us all down and made us do a top ten list, that he would come out the aggregate favorite