0312130305
DETROIT FREE PRESS
031214
Sunday, December 14, 2003
METRO FINAL
1J
MITCH ALBOM Free Press columnist
Copyright (c) 2003, Detroit Free Press
LIFE'S BRILLIANT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF POND
Let's begin with the brussels sprouts. There was an attempt at a world record:
Who could eat the most in one minute?
"You won't want to miss this!" the host said.
Now, I had no idea they kept records on brussels sprouts. But I am behind on
all things British and Irish. This became clear during a book tour last week
in Dublin and London.
I was to appear, they told me, on some of those nations' most prestigious TV
and radio programs. This included the one with the brussels sprouts. That
segment came just after the interview with a transvestite, who had won a
national arts award. He arrived with a dress, lipstick, wig -- and his wife
and kids.
"Hi," I said meekly.
"Hello," he said, his booming voice belying his eye shadow.
Let's face it. We both speak English, but Brits and Americans have as much in
common culturally as Jack London and Jack Black. And not just because, if
Americans wanted to break an eating record, it would be Krispy Kremes, not
brussels sprouts.
Did I mention it was "brilliant?"
This is a word that apparently has been devalued across the pond. I always
thought brilliant was, you know, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking or at least
the winner of "Jeopardy." But in England and Ireland, all you have to do to
get a "brilliant" is show up on time.
"You're here," they'd say. "Brilliant!"
"Can you fix your tie? Brilliant!"
"Smile for the camera . . . brilliant!"
Violets are blue . . .
Of course, the irony of being told you are brilliant is that, in Great
Britain, you feel anything but.
For example, one morning, I was taken to a BBC radio program. (Or "programme"
as they spell it, which only shows they waste letterrrsss.) Again, I was told
this was a huge show and a wonderful vehicle to promote a book. I envisioned a
one-on-one interview. Questions about writing, plot, characters.
Instead, I was led to a windowless studio and introduced to the "other guests"
-- a 17-year-old Muslim boy who started a radio station during Ramadan, a
longtime British actress and folk singer, and the winner of another
prestigious British award -- for best floral artistry.
Floral artistry?
"Let's break the ice," the host said, starting the show. "What is your
favorite flower -- and why?"
"No fair!" the American in me wanted to scream. "The floral artist has
home-court advantage!"
This thought was quickly replaced by another: I don't have a favorite flower.
I go to the store and say, "a red one, a white one, some of those yellow ones
. . ."
And of course, the floral artist went first. And she picked some flower I
never heard of, and proceeded to describe its stem, petals, texture and aroma.
The host smiled. Then the actress, who, naturally, being British, tended her
own garden, also had a bunch of multisyllabic personal favorites. My last hope
was the 17-year-old kid, except that he was also applying to medical school --
and so of course, he rattled off a few perennials and annuals.
"And yours?" the host said.
And I said, "Uh . . . roses are nice.
"It's always tea time
From that point, it was clear there was a moron in their midst. They endured
me in polite British fashion. And of course, afterward, they said the show was
"brilliant!" even though I was obviously not, especially when it came to
horticulture.
What else? There was a photographer who took my picture standing on a picnic
table. There was a radio host who said my book was "cracker!" There was a TV
show described as "our version of your Regis and what's-the-woman's-name?"
"Kelly?" I said.
"Brilliant!" they said.
All in all, I had a fine time, sipped a lot of tea, met a transvestite. And,
though I did it the hard way, I now have the answer to my favorite flower.
It's brussels sprouts.
Contact MITCH ALBOM at 313-223-4581 or albom@freepress.com. "The Five People
You Meet In Heaven" signings: 11 a.m. today at Barnes & Noble, West
Bloomfield; 5:30 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble, Toledo; 7:30 p.m. Monday at
Waldenbooks, Madison Heights.
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