On a bus somewhere between Oklahoma City, OK and Nashville, TN: You know the joke or funny story you tell on numerous occasions and eventually play it off like it's yours, but only because you're not 100% sure who it came from in the first place? I've got one of those. It goes a little something like this:
If I've been drinking and you're within 10 feet of me, you are fair game to be made out with.
You've been warned! It's really not MY fault if you happen to be in my 10 feet radius and, after a few cocktails, I may try to lay one on you. And beware -- anyone is fair game.
Now, of course, this joke / story / rule of life has not been acted upon in the last 2 years thanks to a very lovely boy who is often within 10 feet of me. However, it's still funny to use on random occasions and I honestly can say I can't remember how many times I've used that line.
At the last show of this first weekend back on the road (which also happens to be the second of two, right after the kick off in Austin), a film crew joined us on the road to capture a few behind the scenes scenes for an upcoming TV show. I had been emailing with the producer prior to the taping and she had mentioned that we had met previously through some mutual friends. I'm bad with names & faces and since she didn't have a facebook account (WTF?!) I couldn't see any pics of her to refresh my memory.
On day of show, I was called on the radio to meet said producer in the hallway to talk over the locations I had scouted out earlier in the day. As I approached here and squinted to make her face out, I realized who she was.
The girl with the line.
It suddenly came back to me -- I was at the bar 2 blocks from my house (a prerequisite for me buying this condo) and was chatting it up with a friend of a friend. She said it that night and it was so funny and so perfect that, on the spot, I decided that it would be repeated in the future. However, I never remembered who had said it in the first place, so it was hard to give props where props were due.
And still now, I wasn't 100% sure it was her, but I needed to find out once and for all. "This may see random," I started, "but I'm pretty sure you said something a few years back when we first met, which I've been quoting ever since, but I'm not totally sure it was you. And if it wasn't you, I hope I don't offend you by asking." Curious, she encouraged me to continue. "Well," I nervously said, "it was something about if you've been drinking and someone is within 10 feet of you...." Without missing a beat, she said,
"you mean being a Geographic Drunk?"
Yep - it was her. And that response is pretty much perfect.
So, after years of repeating (aka stealing) that line and using it as my own, I can now say I officially gave props to the creator of it herself. We laughed and post-shooting, decided we would celebrate someday soon over at the old bar down the road.
As long as we're 11 feet away from each other.