My travelling companion

Monday last I kicked off my bunny slippers, hopped in the ol’ jalopy, and headed down to our Nation’s Capital (”Taxation Without Representation”) to see Bob Edwards appear at my favorite inside-the-beltway bookstore, Politics and Prose discussing his book, A Voice in the Box: My Life in Radio. Since I react…badly…to rush-hour traffic on either the Baltimore or Washington beltways, I left a bit early, arriving at the parking lot for the bookstore at around 3:00pm having hit no real traffic at all.

My first stop was, of course, the Modern Times Coffeehouse for a classic cappuccino (seriously, don’t order this if you don’t like the taste of coffee - this ain’t a Star-yucks 70% milk drink) and a little decompress. Then upstairs to spend…ok, a lot…on copies of Bob’s book, and then back downstairs for another coffee. I whiled away a few hours roaming the shelves at the bookstore, taking a walk around the neighborhood, taking this photo of P-Dog (my traveling companion and Katie’s friend) out front on one of the benches, and generally enjoying the warm sunny Autumn day. Seriously, could not have asked for better weather.

Bob in “the big chair,” listening to his introduction

Finally, though, the appointed hour arrived, and Bob appeared with Barbara Meade, founder and former owner of P&P, who promised to attempt to make her introduction using, “Bob-speak;” she tried, but failed. Her amusing suggestion that Bob, “hooked-up” with Susan Stamberg, quickly corrected to, “partnered-with,” raised quite a few eyebrows - including Bob’s!

He read a section from his book, he introduced his finance, Windsor Johnston (News Director of WRTI in Philadelphia), and his daughter Susannah who is responsible for the line-art that adorns his book (I admit I’m partial to the reel that appears before the first chapter, but then I’ve spliced my share of 1/4″ tape). He took questions from the appreciative audience, some about his removal from NPR’s Morning Edition (there are still a whole lot of us unhappy about that whole kerfuffle), others about his “second career” at XM Satellite Radio (now operated by our Sirius overlords). One poignantly commented that he finally canceled his radio, something I understood all too well, and most listened only to the Bob Edwards Weekend compilation program distributed by PRI, Public Radio International. The tone of the questions was considerably different than in 2004, when we were fresh off of his removal from NPR’s morning show; now we’ve had three-quarters of a decade with a different, more contemplative daily program. (I admit finding the irony of the guest at Politics and Prose the following night, though…Steve Inskeep. Poor guy must feel like he’s always following in Edwards’ shadow.)

Signing his latest book; now I have three signed by this author

It finally came time to sign some books, when I had a brief moment to say hello, and a few more photos taken in and around the room. Finally, it was time to leave. Another stop at the coffeeshop for one more classic cappuccino, this one to go, and I hopped into my car for the ride home carrying books purchased and signed, and making sure P-dog’s seat belt was properly buckeled (he has no opposing thumbs, so he can’t handle it himself).

Since I hadn’t the chance before, I hooked my cell phone up to the car radio via Bluetooth and played my recording of that morning’s The Bob Edwards Show. While seeing Bob with many of his other fans at the bookstore was a lot of fun, on the way home that visit was again as intimate as radio can make it…it was just me, Bob, and his guests, having a quiet thoughtful conversation as the miles slipped by. That’s the Bob Edwards with whom millions of people are each intimate, and the magic that radio can still deliver. Personally, I’m grateful he is one of the voices in the box.