Some of us were lucky enough to see the humorist David Sedaris at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford last week. I’ve been a fan for a long time, but unlike my companions on this night it was the first time I’d ever seen him live. And while his books are brilliant I enjoy listening to him even more. My first exposure to him was on NPR, where he read “Santa-land Diaries” back in 1992, and as I was on a long car trip I was able to hear the entire essay. He observes with acuity. He is perceptive, snarky, wise, funny and oh-so-spot-on. Now, every Christmas, I make sure to listen to Santa-land Diaries again. I’ve inserted it here for your enjoyment.

 

But if you don’t have time, a few of my favorite David Sedaris quotes are below:

“I haven’t the slightest idea how to change people, but still I keep a long list of prospective candidates just in case I should ever figure it out.”

“We were not a hugging people. In terms of emotional comfort it was our belief that no amount of physical contact could match the healing powers of a well made cocktail.”

“All of us take pride and pleasure in the fact that we are unique, but I’m afraid that when all is said and done the police are right: it all comes down to fingerprints.”

“This was for me one of those adult moments involving a choice. Do you shrug your shoulders and say, “I couldn’t get it to work either,” or do you tell the woman she spent the weekend trying to open a wine bottle with the broken knob to the dishwasher?” 

We laughed our arses off, from beginning to end. Long live David Sedaris, and may he continue to provide us with our RDA of irreverence and sarcasm.

Deborah

My food column this week is about my love of mushrooms and filo dough, so I put them together. To read more go here.