I’m feeling super bummed right now because I just saw that Kurt Vonnegut died. This sucks because he is one of the best, funniest writers ever. I actually got to meet him once when he did a reading of Timequake at Duke University my senior year of high school. Here is the entire transcript of our conversation, from my memory, of course:
Me: (Looking star struck as I walk to the table where he’s signing books).
Kurt: What the hell happened to your hair?
Me: (Feeling self-conscious about the blue streak in my hair for the first time in years) Um, freak accident at a Crayola Factory?
Him: (Shrug).
Me: (Hands him a copy of Breakfast of Champions.)
Him: (Signs it in the most illegible handwriting ever.) Don’t read Timequake. It’s terrible.
Me: Then why did you write it?
Him: (Slides fingers together as if counting dollar bills.)
And that’s it. Long live Kilgore Trout. —Kate
This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 at 10:47 pm and is filed under Pop Culture, In The News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Kilgore Trout and I had some good times, I must say. Vonnegut was one of the very first writers who really got me psyched about reading. I loved the way he would push the envelope, dancing the line between science fiction and social commentary with his trademark narrative style thrown in for good measure. You were so lucky to have met him, Kate! Thanks for sharing.
so it goes.
hey k8 - it’s your buddy from governor’s school. i pray you still have your blue hair. i was at a bar last night when i heard the news. i started telling your vonnegut story (glad you have it down here, because i missed a few details). i just have an old e-mail for you. drop me an e-mail. sorry for losing touch. i hate it when death is the reason people reconnect.
Wait a second, is this Katelyn? How the heck are you? It’s been years since we talked. I’m not sure that I have an email address for you, so drop me a line at kate.torgovnick@gmail.com. And, yes, the hair is still blue.
hey girl - yes, indeed. it’s me. i sent a message to your gmail, and now i’m leaving a note here. it’s been a few years, so i can wait another day or two for a response
katelynbottoms@hotmail.com
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