Stoked.

I can no longer resist the desire to use the word stoked. No other word will do to describe my feelings about being shortlisted for the Leacock Medal, along with Terry “deservedly oft-winning” Fallis for Poles Apart and Sarah Mian for When the Saints. As noted in an earlier post, this is my third shortlisting and in addition to feeling a bit Susan Lucci-ish, I also feel stoked beyond all reason. I guess it’s because I love and admire humour writing and treasure it above all other kinds. Comedies may not get the respect accorded to many other modes, but they make my life worth living. A book that can make me laugh out loud is a book that I will love until I die. So many of my favourites are comedies. Sue Townsend and Stella Gibbons are two of my literary icons.

So yes, being shortlisted for Canada’s only humour writing award means heavy stokage. And yes, I realize that as a forty-none-of-your-business years-old person I should limit the number of stokeds I employ. This post uses a three year allotment.  And I don’t care because:

Thanks to the committee and organizers!

xo

P.S. The little picture of me looking, well, you know, was taken when I found out I’d made the shortlist. We were camping. I was joyous. It was a good moment. Again, I have no idea when it was imported sideways. I’m starting to like the sideways pictures.