Oral Interpretation

Imelda reminded me of something that happened to me. I was taking an Oral Interpretation class and I had to do a presentation with a group of people. Back in my undergrad years I went out, just about every day of the week... so when I had a presentation to do.. that didn't matter. And... this one presentation... was about coal miners and I had to read two poems...

I didn't shave that day.. I had a terrible hangover and could barely stand up. When it came for the time for me to do my two poems.. I paused... and sat down on stage. The others in the group all turned to look at me.. and I started to slowly read the first of the two poems..

I read it in a scratchy voice, slowly pushing out the words... trying hard not to let anything else come up.. I felt like I was going to puke! At the end of the first poem... I paused... The poem was about the death of a coal miner.... I looked up and people in class had tears in their eyes. I slowly stood up... forgetting that I had another poem to read... I stood up with my head bowed because I didn't feel good and then all of a sudden realized that I still had another poem to read.

I started reading that poem... this time a little more upbeat because I just wanted to get it over with.

At the end of our presentation, we got a standing ovation and the professor said. "Chris.. that pause had us all in tears.. it was brilliant! wonderful job"

I think it was the only time in my College career that a hangover and an allnight binge of alcohol and dancing.. got me an A.