Kitchcraft

I work downtown right next to the National Geographic building, so when my co-worker, Rebecca Orris, asked me if I’d like to usher at a National Geographic Live! event, my first thought was “Well, of course, I just have to walk across the street.” Then she read me the title of the program, “FIRST PERSON: Stories from the Edge of the World.” Nice. I’ve been feeling quite on the edge of my own world, so I was interested right away.

The program was magnificent. It featured a collection of writings from people who had set out on adventure, what they experience and how those experiences changed them. Neal Conan, from NPR wrote and narrated the program along with Liane Hansen and Bill Pullman. Beautiful slides from National Geographic and the folk-group, Galilel, accompanied the stories.

The selections from Darwin’s journals “I Never Was Intended for a Traveler” were full of humor and humanity. Ms. Hansen read the entries to the audience letting us know what to expect with her tone. The audience loved the passionate descriptions of sea-sickness and the obvious change in his spirits once his “wanderlust” had gone sour. Truly some laugh-out loud moments. I really connected with one part where Darwin had overwhelming feelings of homesickness but he knew that he should be grateful and enjoying his adventure. You haven’t lived, if you haven’t had one of those moments.

I have to say that the other segment of the program that really had an effect on me was “A New Realm of Life”. It was written by some of the first deep-sea explorers who went down to the bottom of the ocean expecting a desert and found life. That seemed like a moment that really changed the people who were involved. It gives me faith that there are still surprises in store for us. I like that.
I could go on and on about every aspect of the program, but I’ll just keep this short and hope that all of you get to see it someday or somewhere. I would definitely see this program again. Maybe they could get it on PBS or online somewhere. So yeah, surprise ushering opportunities are always welcome!