Vintage Vonnegut

Years ago I read a short story by Kurt Vonnegut that still comes to mind now and then. The story, "More Stately Mansions," is about a woman who is so obsessed with reading decorating magazines and re-doing her house that she completely loses touch with reality. The story was written in 1951, but honestly, it could reads like it was written about the whole Martha Stewart - HGTV - Antiques Roadshow phenomenon.
This weekend was Get Lit! and the featured speaker Saturday night at The Met was none other than Kurt Vonnegut. I didn't get a ticket to Vonnegut before the show sold out, but after a little creative begging, I found one through an EWU Press staffer.
I sat in the next-to-last row of the balcony, next to Chris Crutcher and his wife.
It was fascinating to see and listen to Vonnegut and I felt a lump in my throat when he waltzed slowly off the stage. He's 81 and I don't think I'll ever get a chance to hear him again.
Sunday afternoon we went to the Opera House to listen to Dave Barry, and others, read. After dinner and a glass or two of wine at Europa, we went back to the Opera House to hear readers that included Scott Poole, Crutcher, reading from "King of the Mild Frontier," and Garrison Keillor. I got home after 10 p.m. knowing I had a short deadline looming, but it was worth it.
The last thing I did before I fell asleep was read that story by Vonnegut.