I had the good fortune of meeting John Steinbeck’s son Thomas this weekend. He said a lot of inspiring things that will eventually make their way into future blog posts, but his fans have so distracted me that I must first dedicate a post to them.
The first one who caught my attention was a sweet old lady who needed help walking and carrying her books. I offered assistance. Less because I’m nice and more because I like old ladies. They’re like Yoda. I’d hoped she’d share a nugget of wisdom that would alter my worldview into something more…peaceful. She didn’t.
She ignored my outstretched arms and thrust her books at the event coordinator. Why? Because this was the inroad to Mr. Steinbeck. Not long afterward, I overheard my Yoda telling the star of the show that she knew someone who knew someone that lived on his dad’s old street.
“That’s an awkward introduction!” I wanted to yell. “You sound desperate!” But I had no supporters. Every person around me was clambering to get a piece of the Pulitzer Prize winner’s son.
A grown man virtually begged for the phone number of the career-groupie in attendance (otherwise known as a Steinbeck biographer). Is there anything more pitiful than stalking a stalker? I soon discovered yes. Because before long, some college-aged long-hair got in Mr. Steinbeck’s face and waxed poetic about his undying passion for the cypress tree (the cypress tree, folks) and isn’t that a coincidence? The word cypress appears in the title of Mr. Steinbeck’s first novel!
It depressed me.
I’ve been studying Buddhism recently because a major player in my novel misinterprets Eastern philosophies to tragicomic results. Perhaps I will suffer her fate. But for now, I hold dear a Buddhist teaching that has set me free: the accomplishments of those you hero-worship are within your potentiality.
We’re all a little guilty of hero-worship. I am obsessed with Kundera’s philosophical musings. Nabokov’s unrelenting prose. Guillermo Martinez’s conviction to thwart his characters’ goals to the brutal end.
Who do you hero-worship? Why? Now go accomplish it yourself!
I don’t hero worship because we are all just people.
Groupies are an odd bunch, aren’t they? Remember William Shatner on SNL? “Folks, get a life!”
Well not to mention that all that ridiculousness interferes with the Steinbeck Jr’s ability to talk about his dad in a real way, because maybe he’s getting a big head just because his dad was John Steinbeck.
I don’t really hero worship either – however, I absolutely love hearing about people getting their first agent or having their first book sell to a publisher. Those kind of stories inspire me – and make me work harder to reach the same fate.
I don’t worship mortal beings, although I do admire many.
“The accomplishments of those you hero-worship (or those I choose to admire) are within your potentiality.” Now that’s a belief worthy of getting real excited about.
I don’t really do the hero worship thing. Sure, there are people I admire, and sometimes I seek them out but I try to be myself around them rather than someone they’re going to want to run from.
I don’t hero worship anyone. I tried to worship myself, but I found myself too creepy.
cmcolavito – you always bring the LOLs!
KarenG – You would think so, but Thomas Jr. didn’t seem to have an inflated ego at all. If anything, he seemed a little skittish about even attempting to fill his dad’s big shoes. He said that was why he waited so long to write his first novel.
Alex J – The odd thing was, I think these people were probably pretty normal, but in the presence of someone like that they turned into something else entirely. It happened to me once. Freddie Prinze Jr. (old teen heartthrob) came into my company’s booth at a trade show once and I turned into such a dork. And I wasn’t even a fan in the first place!
Shaddy – it is exciting if it’s true! I’m banking on it
Jaydee – I get jealous. Ha!
*recites Buddhist mantra*
I think my parents raised me to see the clay ankles first … so I don’t hero worship much though I do appreciate it when someone presents me with a new insight.
Were you at a book reading … or writer’s conference?