This time meeting up with Alton Brown, I was fortunate to be able to shoot some video. Actually, my mom shot the part when I was talking with AB at the signing part, so it’s a bit shaky. And I forgot my tripod so the portion during the Q&A is a bit wobbly. Nevertheless, I have some video! In the past readers have asked for it and most of the time the event venue doesn’t allow recording. This time it was ok.
Up first, meeting AB at the signing. If you had any doubt the man remembers me, check this out. He even knows the Kentucky stop was close to me! As usual I bring him gifts. What he is looking at in the video is a fairy cross. The fairy cross is a mineral called staurolite and is the state mineral of Georgia. I learned of the fairy cross legend in an Appalachian folklore course years ago. My professor had one given to him by an Appalachian author, Jayne Anne Phillips.
The legend goes the crosses were formed from the tears of the woodland fairies upon learning of the Crucifixion of Christ. I had wanted a fair cross for years after the folklore class and finally located one several weeks ago. Knowing AB has been more open about his faith of late, I thought it would be a perfect item to give him because of the faith connection and the Georgia connection. He seemed to like it very much.
By the way, my mom shot the video of me with Alton, so it was a little rough. You’ll here her “commentary” and she turned the camera sideways near the end for some reason. LOL.
This is the opening part of the Q&A Friday night. I have a ton more, he talked for 47 minutes, but it needs to be edited into segments to be uploaded to YouTube. First question was about cooking with kids and AB’s macabre take on the question.
LOL – how can you have anything left?
Can I have the bag? LOL what is he, 5?
I never doubted he remembered you!
He really is a child. But I can tell, he loved the fairy cross. I got a similar reaction when I gave him my gift, a thank you card and a great bookmark with a calligraphy "B" on it. He thanked me so many times.
Can't wait for the next book tour!
PS. Lisa, I know that he appreciates the fact you always know exactly what to give him.
AB is looking F-I-N-E these days.
Did he whisper your name? I played he back a couple of times to make sure… this fangirl would be a puddle if that happened to her.