Because NEIL GAIMAN ACKNOWLEDGED MY EXISTENCE!
I'm fricken smiling ear to ear because my twitter handle appeared in one of his tweets. I know it's a tiny thing, but it's amazing what can make your evening just a little brighter.
So, The Moth tweeted about their charity auctions and one of them is to sit down and have tea with Neil Gaiman (I KNOW RIGHT!)
@TheMoth: Up for bidding: Tea time with @neilhimself!
http://bit.ly/YZtMrg #mothauction
And while the item is out of my price range (unless I put it on a credit card and I'm trying to be financial responsible, sorry Mr. Gaiman) I did read through the posting and noticed something a little odd in their Special Instructions section.
"Item winner to pay for tea."
Really, The Moth? Granted the bids are up over $2,000, so paying an additional 5-10 bucks for tea isn't really a big deal, but it just seemed odd. I mean, you already have to get yourself to New York for this meet up and tea sharing. So, I decided to be a smartass and responded-
@artandrhinos: @TheMoth @neilhimself I have to pay for the tea? I'm out. I now, out of principle, if we ever meet, cannot buy you tea. #wouldificould
Here I am hoping it gets a little chuckle, maybe in my fantasyland brain it leads to an offer to let me buy him a beer (dream big!) Well, a few minutes later my gmail lets me know I've had a mention. I check it and- DEAR GOD I HAVE BEEN NOTICED! RUN AWAY>>>RUN AWAY.
Neil Gaiman @neilhimself:@artandrhinos @TheMoth that's odd. In previous years the item winner didn't pay for the tea.
And now I feel like I have gotten The Moth in trouble. Also, in the back of my brain, way past the rational sections is the repeated thought "he saw me, he saw me , he saw me, he saw me..." Which, as I said, not rational and I am much more the quiet introvert when I meet those I deeply respect in person. That doesn't keep the little kid inside of me from doing the dance of joy.
@artandrhinos: @neilhimself @TheMoth *previous comment made with unruly facetiousness. Though, you should totally go for the most expensive tea.
It does make me chuckle to think of lobster tea or caviar tea...or filet mignon tea. And I hope whomever wins has a wonderful Neil Gaiman tea experience. I genuinely wish I could afford such a trip, but alas. I will use the time to dream and to make damn good art. And one day, Mr. Gaiman and I'll share a beverage and it'll be because we're both writers. And I will remember back to this and make sure to offer to buy anything on the menu, except for tea.