Basking in the Glow of Eggers-ness

Yesterday was an excellent day in Deuce-land. Not only has the weather been fall-perfect for a full four days, and not only has crushdom been going quite well, but yesterday, I left my cubicle, ventured out through that glorious fall sunshine into one of the greatest bookstores known to man and met Dave Eggers, also known as my favorite author (itty bitty caveat... favorite living author, there might be a few dead folk to challenge said title. I dunno... Shakespeare, Fitzgerald, Emerson, but among the living this is IT).

He was funny and smart, gracious and enlightening, and never far from tragedy (he was talking about the southern Sudanese, after all). Reading What is the What, it's difficult not to feel it deeply, and seeing pictures of Valentino, of Marial Bai and his family and friends (particularly a picture of a woman named Ashol and her children with a bit of her story that wasn't in the book) it's jaw-dropping. I certainly can't say any of it better than Eggers does, so please please please go read the book. It's out in paperback now (so it's cheap AND portable! what could go wrong?), it'll change your life. Also, if you're my friend, you might be getting a copy for Christmas. :)

I'm still a geek though, and still overjoyed that I got to meet him and talk to him (and that I can now stare at his autograph anytime I want). The man can make words (and little pictures of staplers and illustrations of whales surfacing) dance, and spends so much of his life trying to share that joy. It's inspiring and incredible, and I'm so glad I got a chance to say thanks!