Broadsheet: Driveway Moment

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. - Cyril Connolly

Monday, July 21, 2008

Driveway Moment

Actually, a parking garage moment.

I had my pre-op physical with my internist this morning, and after I had been questioned, poked, prodded, peed in a cup, stuck with needles, and suffered general humiliation, I headed to my car and to work at 11:00 AM.

I had the radio tuned to WYPR, our local NPR station, and the second half of the Diane Rehm show came on. Her guest was David Giffels, a journalist at the Akron, OH Beacon and former writer for Beavis and Butt Head. He was touting his new book: "All the Way Home", which is something of a coming of age book for a young father who took on the task of restoring a crumbling old mansion/money pit into a home. I had read a very positive blurb about the book in Vanity Fair, and apparently Oprah is a big fan too.

From his glowing description, it sounds like the house should have been torn down it was in such bad shape (55 aluminum turkey roasters in the attic, overflowing with stagnant rain water, to squirrels, and even the previous owner as a squatter - they thought the house was abandoned when they bought it - she obviously thought differently), that it should have been condemned and demolished.

I was instantly taken with his engaging storytelling style, his self deprication, and the utter naivete he displayed in taking on a project of this scope and magnitude. The interview was at times hilarious and heart breaking.

Thirty minutes later, I was sitting in the parking garage at work, listening to the last 10 minutes of the interview in rapt attention. I immediately went on line and purchased a copy of the book, and I urge you to do the same.

posted by Broadsheet @ 6:31 PM

1 Editorial Opinions:

At July 22, 2008, Anonymous said…

Hey, I recognized this as the same guy/house I read about online from the "turkey roasting pans in the oven" comment. It is a fabulous DIY old house reno. Think I came across it on the Apartment Therapy blog?

Didn't know he was a writer for Beavis and Butthead though. Care to pass that book along when you're done?

youngest sister