Yesterday, animal mediation specialist Debra Voda Vey Hamilton interviewed me for an upcoming telesummit she’s producing. This is one of the stories I told.
When I was fresh out of grad school, I lived in Washington, DC in a semi-dilapitated house with five other 20-somethings scrambling to make ends meet with barely-paid internships and McJobs. Imagine the early seasons of The Real World sans scandalous (or any) romantic shenanigans or Ikea furniture.
One of my housemates had a pet Vietnamese pot-bellied pig named Taylor. These cat-sized creatures were illegal as pets — they were livestock, according to The Man. We did not have whatever license or facilities one needed for raising farm animals, so belated apologies to the USDA.
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Brad–
I’m glad to hear that Debra’s putting on a teleseminar. That should be very interesting. This was — predictably — a great read. In defense of Taylor’s sapiens roommates, maybe you didn’t find a telephone stand because you realized at the time that he’d just figure a way to bound up there from a nearby piece of furniture, or knock over the stand to take his calls. Your point about conflict blocking creative solutions is an important one.
–Chuck Newman
Great story!
As usual, you provide great insight and valuable lessons via wonderful personal stories delivered with humor, clarity and your unique brand of panache. Thank you! ~MPP
Brad…
Great story of Taylor, the receptionist. It reminds me when a policeman stopped me in my car with a pig in the front seat a long time ago.
“What are you doing with that pig?” He asked, “You should take it to the zoo.”
The following week, the same policeman sees me with my pig again in the front seat, with both of us wearing sunglasses. The policeman pulls me over.
“I thought you were going to take that pig to the zoo!”
I replied, “I did. We had such a good time we are going to the beach this weekend!”
Keep up the good posts.
Since my post grad (i.e law) school scandalous and/or romantic shenanigans were decidedly less picturesque (as I tried to climb my way to the “top”), I am quite jealous at how fun this anecdote seems to make that time of life! But now, working with the NY Peace Institute family, I am able to personally attest to being able to enjoy these kinds of picturesque episodes, albeit at “arm’s length”. as an intern, and maybe, one day, as a community mediator.
Wonderful writing. I imagine you are a terrific mediator.
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