As we prepared for an evening comedy show down at the Argosy casino, I remarked to my girlfriend that I would wait until the end of the night to shower. We had attended a similar event a year or two ago, and I distinctly remember coming home smelling like an ashtray. Top it off with the fact that I’m a reformed smoker myself…the worst sort to subject to a hazy environment. Then I recalled the recently passed ban here in Illinois. My “day” became a little bit brighter.

But it’s all a matter of perspective. Once upon a time, I might have avoided an establishment that would not allow me to indulge in my “God-given right.” Or maybe I wouldn’t have. Who knows? Yet I found myself reflecting on how vastly different points of view can be — seemingly from the same origination — as the evening drew to a close.

The program headliner was Bob Zany, a comedian I have come to know from the “Bob and Tom Radio Show,” broadcast weekday mornings on St. Louis’ KSHE 95. He can be acerbic and grating and brash — just the kind of humour that appeals to me. Which was fortunate, for I ended up being one of his targets. I couldn’t have been happier. How often does one have the opportunity to be part of the entertainment?

Shortly after we filed out of the auditorium, a patron approached us. She felt sorry for me, as she was a witness to my “humiliation.” I recognized her; she and her companion were seated not too far from us, albeit in the V.I.P. section. (Our group was not so…privileged.) Separately, a few minutes later, her date confided to me that he would have definitely kicked a tender part of Mr. Zany’s anatomy had the comedian picked on him instead. I laughed each declaration aside, trying diligently to convince them that I was not a “victim.” It didn’t work.

Again — a matter of perspective. Would I have had the same opinion somewhere back in my own past? I hope not. But anything is possible. Even change. Even positive change. May such be true for all of us.

(Thanks to Karen, Brian, Jennifer, Bob Zany, Dan St. Paul and Emo Philips for a wonderful night.)

This entry was posted on Monday, February 25th, 2008 at 8:05 pm and is filed under David Black. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.