Sometimes I Meet People

One person in this photo is one of the world’s greatest authors; the other is a random guy just happy to be there.

Do you see the photo above? That’s me and Margaret Atwood. Let me tell you a story. (Actually, two stories: one of them important and the other not as much.)

Several years ago, before things like global pandemics, a group of inspired people in Green Bay, Wisconsin put together an event called UntitledTown: A Book & Author Festival. And wow, these folks decided to go big right out of the gate. The first keynote author—for a brand-new festival in Green Bay—was Margaret Atwood! Let’s pause for a moment and acknowledge how much butt that kicks.

Because I’m pretty close with one of the festival’s organizers, I volunteered to help and was given the incredibly arduous task of… hanging out with Margaret Atwood for a day and driving her to all the places she needed to go. Let me tell you, I knew this would be extremely difficult work, but in my bravery I decided to take it on.

When I picked her up from the hotel, she was running a few minutes late. She apologized and said, “I was writing.” Of course she was! The nerve! So, before I move into the two promised stories, I can tell you that she’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, super funny and generous, and getting to spend time with her was an absolute joy.

Story #1: As the keynote writer and speaker, she agreed to participate in smaller events during the day. I had to get her to these events (never have I been so nervous about driving—not even during my driver’s test. Oh my god oh my god, do not get in an accident and make Margaret Atwood late! You will bring shame to your family and nation).

For one of these events, she met with a group of local high school students who had read The Handmaid’s Tale and some of her poetry. All the students were female, and I hovered at the room’s margins and listened to Margaret Atwood, no doubt a future winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, answer every single question asked of her with the most singular combination of intelligence and sincerity I have ever encountered, all while also asking questions of the students. It was a marvel.

The students, seated in a circle with Atwood, were on the edge of their seats. When they weren’t laughing about something Atwood had said, you could have heard a pin drop. I tell this story because it reminds me of how generous many of our greatest artists can be, beyond their already providing us with their creations. This is what young people need more of—time with creatives and intellectuals where they can talk about something beyond what career into which they should be quickly slotted. I listened as Margaret Atwood went over the allotted time with the students, just to make sure she answered all their questions. I am pretty sure every student, and their teacher, floated out of the room.

Story #2 (the not as important one): This event occurred early in the Trump Presidency. Since she mentioned she had been writing that morning and I wanted to make conversation, I asked “So, what were you working on?” (As one does, when driving around with Margaret Atwood.)

Her response, which I will do my best to paraphrase, was something like: Well, I know I’m Canadian, but I’m really troubled by what I see happening in your politics at the moment. It reminds me of some bad things.

I agreed; she continued.

So, to answer your question…but you have to promise not to tell anyone because I haven’t really shared this…

I immediately knew I would tell everyone as soon as possible.

…what I was working on, and it is still bouncing around in my head, is a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale.

Somehow, I managed to keep the vehicle on the road and heading in the right direction. I do not believe I endangered any pedestrians. How does one respond to this statement without spontaneously combusting from the excitement? Luckily, I am super eloquent and a master of the language arts; I responded with a single “Oh.” We then arrived at the keynote event where over a thousand people would listen to her read and speak (she then signed books forever), but at the moment I was one of two people in the room who knew The Testaments was on its way.

Thanks for listening. Have a great day!