April 18, 2002

Today is the day to get medieval.

Literary readings can be touch and go. Sometimes they're fantastic. Sometimes they're not. They can be hot, noisy, snobby, with a 2-drink maximum. And sometimes the readings themselves plain aren't any fun. Perhaps I'm betraying the literary world by this but probably not.

Last Saturday, though, I went to a great reading on behalf of Bridge Magazine. The art gallery it was in was cool, the attendants were friendly and interestingly-dressed, and the keg was not tapped while I was there. Sadly, I missed the reading but the acting was cool and the latest print issue of Bridge looks fantastic.

But here was the best part: they featured wild animals. Seriously, during the party, animal handlers strolled the party with an alligator named Al Capone, an albino snake, a little fox, a big otter-type thing and this crazy monkey-like creature called a kinkajou (it was my favorite, because it kept grabbing my hand. And yes, I already made the obligatory joke about kinkapalestinians.)

It was fantastic. Say, for example, you were a painfully shy person. You could still have a great time at the reading, playing with animals and getting to know people through your mutual love of the creatures.

But it shouldn't stop there. We should have wild animals at more occasions! Imagine: you're at a business meeting, stymied and stonewalled over the Jenkins Account, and somebody suddenly lets an alligator run through the conference room. After you've finished wiping away your tears of laughter and wiping your pants clean, you realize how much more relaxed and happy you feel. More animals at parties, in the office, on the street, at weddings and at concerts (see, Britney Spears and that snake was a good idea!) Always something to talk about, always something to touch and learn about. This is such a good idea.