Mingling with the younger generation

Sitting here one day in the cloudy and overcast weather which often brings sadness to many people who have S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) I was jolted out of my doldrums. Joseph Sacks, a young West Seattle WWU student was looking for a grey haired old lady to act in a non-profit video he was producing. He had been referred to me by a friend of mine who assured him that I could do anything—act, sing, dance, you name it.

My phone rang and I was offered a chance to be a star ending up on You-Tube.
“What am I to do?” I asked, wondering if I had gotten in over my head. “Just read these lines,” he replied. “I’ll give you time in between takes to practice.”

All my life I have said “yes” and then filled in the gaps afterwards. However,
now faced with a video camera, hot lights and props resembling credit cards I wondered
if this was really a good choice for spending my volunteer time. But when I learned that I was acting for a non-profit group protesting the excesses of credit card companies I was all for it. Even Frontline on public television was concerned enough over ever increasing credit card interest rates to showcase this issue. Visions of credit card penalty fees because I was late in paying my credit card bill danced through my head. I once fixed that problem by saying, “If you can produce the cancelled envelope with the mailing date of my payment and prove it arrived late, I will pay the late charge. Nuff sed.

Remembering what other people go through in succumbing to the large numbers on the bill which seduce you into paying a minimum balance and later realizing the interest it amounts to, I decided to cooperate in this venture. I even offered to pad the script with my own thoughts about being threatened with a late fee if I put the bill in backwards so the credit card company address wasn’t visible through the cutout window.

So I reveled in talking about credit card company manipulation and was given
a baseball bat to swing in order to accentuate my ire at some companies who play games with people like me. Soon you can Google 89 Year Old Virgin on You-Tube. By the way, I am not a flyer posting virgin any longer as I finally was filmed while putting up my first credit card revolt poster.

John Goldman, a fellow in his sixties whom I have yet to meet in person, heard that I go on the comedy stage. He called to talk about his standup comedy class that was filmed on Evening Magazine. I admitted that I learned the hard way, preparing a standup routine and appearing cold turkey at Seattle Comedy Underground. It took time to hone my craft by learning the timing that is so crucial to getting laughs. Recently a young fellow, Joel Lebahn, joined me on stage in a comedy duo at Market Theater. What fun to hint at playing Harold and Maude before an audience. Even his wife thought we were a hoot.

I still welcome doing comedy and video acting with younger people who appreciate their “granny” friend. They have a lot to learn from my aging wisdom and I have a lot to learn from their techie talent. But I haven’t forgotten my older friends and will be preparing to play for another sing-along with them soon.

Georgie Bright Kunkel is a freelance writer who can be reached at gnkunkel@comcast.net or 206-935-8663.