Let's Hear It for Average Joes!
I was at this big Christian event yesterday, a 5K race. It was really neat!
There was this guy named Joe who was running with his family! He's from Peoria!
Anyway, Joe from Peoria must have felt real welcome-like, because people went waaay out of their way to say hi and stuff! Just a middle-aged Joe, super-nice guy from Peoria! People really, really, loved on him! It was neat! I liked Joe, too! Great guy!
You know how some things you go to, and there's the "important people", and then the others? It was cool that at this Christian event, because some Joe from Peoria could be treated like he was important, too! He must've felt like a real star, too!
In a celebrity culture, it was a reminder to me to celebrate everybody! I thought that was neat! We're different!*
---------------
* -- Incidentally, Joe from Peoria has a new job!
** -- Joe told me his favorite artist on my radio station is Casting Crowns!
Name dropper.
[From Brant: EXACTLY. I, Brant Hansen, was one of only 1,300 people at the very same place as Joe. That makes me kind of a big deal. Transitive property of equality.]
Posted by: amy | February 03, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Brant,
You consistently crack me up. I sit there and grin through the entire post. Then I start to feel smug, wondering how many people miss the sarcasm in your posts. Then I realize my smugness is just a watered down type of pride and I have to repent. All that within 60 seconds of reading your blog. Man, you're better than any hellfire preacher to bring me to my knees ;-). Keep up the great work. Clearly your sarcasm is NOT unhelpful!
Elle
Posted by: Elle | February 03, 2008 at 04:52 PM
I have some family in Peoria. They are famous to me. Actually one of them forwarded me to this blog. Said family members will be hosting a family reunion this summer. If we get obnoxious enough, perhaps we too will become famous. And all get new jobs.
Posted by: Monica Battaile | February 03, 2008 at 07:32 PM
Hey, Brett. How come your sidebar still doesn't link to the wonder that is Sauropod Vertebra Picture of the Week (SV-POW!)?
I think you will really like the current post. Doesn't it make you feel humble?
Posted by: Mike Taylor | February 03, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Did I just call you Brett? I did, didn't I? I didn't mean to call you Brett. Sorry, Brendan. Won't happen again.
Posted by: Mike Taylor | February 03, 2008 at 09:07 PM
hey, i grew up in peoria. does that make me average or super important?
Posted by: deborah | February 03, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Honestly, I saw this post first after reading all the news from the St^Hupo^Her Bowl* and I was expecting a Brant Hansen rip on the celebrity culture. I was taken a bit aback by the tone. I was actually kinda uplifted. I was, frankly, more than a little hopeful.
And then I saw the asterisk.
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice. So nice.
*Man, the control-H gag is so 1993.
[From Brant: Doesn't it give you a warm, comfy, feeling though? You always know what you'll get here. Not necessarily "good writing", or "insight", but consistency. We've got it here.]
Posted by: Dr Chuck Pearson | February 04, 2008 at 06:42 AM
Brant,
That's what I like about you - you treat everyone with the same dis... same level of respect. Did Joe win? What place did he come in? Isn't that what is important - who won?
Makes me miss all the "Man at the Event" interviews I did as a journalists. You ask "why did you come to the fun run?" and they say "Because it's fun."
-Sam
Posted by: Sam | February 04, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Brant, I hope you gave him your autograph - the least you could have done for average Joe.
Posted by: John Dennis | February 05, 2008 at 01:29 AM
Nice. Subtle - Elegant... true.
Posted by: RevJeff | February 05, 2008 at 01:02 PM
I meant eloquent... my spell checker snuck that in on me...
You write swell.
Posted by: RevJeff | February 05, 2008 at 01:04 PM
I pray that Joe from Peoria and his billionare boys club have a hundred losses this year and Joe from Peoria loses his new job.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Posted by: kcillini77 | February 08, 2008 at 04:49 PM