Because I am a humor columnist with an abundance of je ne sais quoi, which is French for "that certain something which could well be nothing," I often have the opportunity to hobnob with world opinion leaders.
Actually, I had the opportunity to have my photograph taken with one world opinion leader -- Gen. Colin Powell. It was a few months ago at a private dinner before he spoke at the Meyerhoff. Come to think of it, the invitation was not expressly made to me per se -- rather it was to my husband, who has a real job that rarely involves humor. And let me elucidate further by pointing out that it wasn't only me who had the opportunity to be photographed -- it was everyone who was invited to the dinner.
So you can see that here in Janet's World we are highly esteemed in the community, insofar as it concerns being a spouse of someone invited to meet General Powell.
Not everyone hobnobbed, however. And I have proof of the hobnobbing, in the photograph taken of General Powell and me. Oh yes -- and the guy who was invited, my husband.
It was the typical staged handshake shot -- or at least it was supposed to be. But in our happy little trio, you have General Powell extending his hand, my husband reaching out to shake it, and me, well -- gesticulating oddly as I am hobnobbing.
I don't really know what possessed me to chat it up with General Powell, but I guess I've always been a nondifferentiating talker. This means I will chat it up with you whether you are slicing my luncheon meat order or, say, being crowned. I do not really alter my personality to suit a particular audience, though I might adjust my vocabulary.
So I apparently felt compelled to regale General Powell with a little witticism just as the photographer was trying to place us in some sort of order and snap a quick shot. Here's how it went:
Photographer: "Come on over here -- let's see, let's put you -- yes, you -- in the middle here."
Me to General Powell as photographer shoots: "Well, you know what my grandmother would say: `A rose between two thorns.' "
General Powell might have been a bit confused by this charming little je ne sais quoi, but he cleverly remained diplomatic and moved on to pose with the next couple.
In case I have not painted a vivid enough image here, you can view the photo on my Web site: www.janetgilbertonline.com.
