BS: Your Proudest Moment: Part 2

Subject: BS: Your Proudest Moment: Part 2
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 01:22 AM

About a year or so ago I asked people to tell about thier proudest moments. That thread has long since closed, but I've been thinking along those lines lately.

    Eight or so years ago, whilst hosting the open mic at Mother Fool's Coffehouse in Madison,WI, I encountered a young man named Aaron Nathans.
He got up and performed a couple of pop/rock covers reasonably well. He kept going to open mics and trying to expand his repertoire. I'd run into him from time to time (I've spent an unbelievable amount of my professional time in the last decade hosting open mics). Within a couple of years he started to get braver. He started writing. He has since become quite good at it. A week ago last Sunday I performed a guest set at his first CD release party. On Friday May 6th I'll be recording one of his songs live. I'm so proud of this guy I could explode. In a scant eight years Aaron has not only become a darned good songsmith, but a fine entertainer, and a genuine presence on stage. there are few things more exciting than watching new talents grow and blossom.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: BS: Your Proudest Moment: Part 2
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 06:02 AM

In case you forgot what it was.... The original thread .

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Your Proudest Moment: Part 2
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 11:27 AM

Thanks, Liz.

Subject: RE: BS: Your Proudest Moment: Part 2
From: mack/misophist
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 12:42 AM

Congratulations.

Subject: RE: BS: Your Proudest Moment: Part 2
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 01:13 AM

I remember talking one evening with the husband of a friend at a neighorhood meeting. He wanted to know how to get published, and knew I'd been doing freelance writing work. I gave him a simple list of things to do, and a couple of resources, thinking that he probably wouldn't follow through. But a year later I couldn't have been more pleased to have him give me a signed copy of his book. He'd decided my information was good, had followed my instructions, and had found a publisher for the book he'd been working on. That book (out of date now) is still on my shelf. (!)

Another time a similar conversation happened with one of my English professors (he was on my MA thesis committee). He wrote an email to ask about getting published in commercial publications. I'd thought that an English PhD would know all about getting published, but in fact, they know about getting a lot of hard work published for no remuneration. I was surprised some months later by an email from him with the news he that he'd sold an article. I wrote back and asked "but did they pay you?" His response was memorable--he was embarrassed to say that this payment for a trifle of an article was more than the advance for the last scholarly book he'd published! He regularly publishes for payment now, along with his scholarly work.

I'm raising two talented and gifted children, and every so often they'll ask me for guidance that leads them to some success at school or elsewhere. I know they did the work, but am always pleased to know that 1) they were comfortable enough to ask me for help and 2) they were diligent enough to follow through, and receive recognition for their own work. My son was just nominated for a junior high school level National Honor Society. Whoo hoo! He did the work, but had parental encouragement helping him along (mostly in learning discipline to get the schoolwork done).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Your Proudest Moment: Part 2
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Apr 05 - 02:02 PM

well...many years ago there used to be a TV quiz show called "The Who, What or Where Game"....contestants would choose a topic, then could ask for easy or more difficult questions about it, with correspondingly greater rewards. (double money, triple money..etc..)

One day I had come home for lunch and was watching the show with my ex-wife and one kid. The topic was 'great historical battles', and I said "I'll take the 2 for one (double money) question...and the answer is "Thermopylae"...they looked at me strangely.

Sure enough, the contestant choose 2 for 1, and the question was "at what battle did a small Greek force hold off a much superior Persian army...etc.."

The wife & kid looked at me and asked "How'd you do that?"

Then I got to explain about inductive reasoning and smirk for awhile.

Subject: RE: BS: Your Proudest Moment: Part 2
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 20 May 05 - 02:58 AM

I almost forgot. If you would like to find out more about Aaron Nathans
click here .

Stephen Lee