Whad'yaknow? Not Much. You?

Before Christmas, Randy expressed a wish to see the broadcast of "Whad'yaknow" weekly heard on NPR, with Michael Feldman.  The taping would be at the Chandler Center for the Arts on February 13.  So for Christmas I surprised him with tickets.  It's always fun to look forward to something for months ahead - kind of like your birthday.  As the day drew nearer, Randy was quick to decline conflicting events, explaining we would be going to the broadcast instead; so I knew he was excited.  The day before, he ask if I would be embarrassed if he tried to be a contestant on the show.  Knowing him, I wasn't surprised.  I could only encourage him.  So we talked about what he would wear to be unmissable.  His Disney shirt was the perfect attire.

The tickets were general admission, so we knew we had to be there early.  He got home from work, and we dashed to get something to eat, then we were on our way.  He had left that morning, wearing a red polo shirt, but since it was Valentines weekend, I didn't mention the Disney shirt.  The parking lot was full when we drove up, so we hustled faster.  Just as we approached the doors, they opened and we slid into the fastest moving line.  The seats were filling up fast, but that didn't hinder his "mission".  If you ever want a good seat, go with Randy.  He's not afraid to crawl over people to get to the middle, which is exactly where he was headed - the two empty seats in the middle of a filled row closest to the front  (OK, 13 rows back).  We promised people as we climbed over their knees that we would stay put, so they didn't have to worry about us being in and out.  So there we were, an hour early.  We watched people, observed the open stage lay out of life size fake ostriches and a bad tumbleweed Christmas tree (both representing Chandler!), watched the stage crew gp back and forth to set up, spotted Michael Feldman peeking from behind the curtain to see the audience. . .Finally his musicians took their spots, played a little, a n d, Michael Feldman!  We clapped like happy seals as we cheered at every joke/poke about our state.  It was fun to laugh with the rest of the country about the craziness going on in AZ.

During each broadcast, Michael Feldman schedules authorities to come in and share their expertise.  After the ASU cosmology professor, it was time for him to work the audience for a contestant to play the "whad'yaknow" game with him on stage.  Then he calls people in the state, puts them on the phone with you, making up a team to try and answer some of his questions, hopefully getting them right, for a prize and the pride of even being chosen as live contestants  This is what Randy had been dreaming about.  Being in the middle row, we watched as he came down into the audience, looking far beyond our seats and motioned for a young woman to come to the front to play.  We thought she was planted.  We also knew that he had just finished the first hour and he would play another game with another contestant in the second hour.

After the ASU fossil authority professor, the band started playing and the director announced there would be a break.  People stood up, but sat back down quickly as Michael Feldman came down the aisle on the other side of us.  He stopped and spoke to an odd elderly couple.  He was a bout 15 feet away.  It was fun to see him in person.  Then he left them and came up another step or two towards us, triggering hands waving in the air for his attention.  He looked right at Randy, but his hand wasn't as frantic as some.  So he looked beyond.  Seeing and reading into the situation, I lifted Randy's arm myself,  prodding him to wave bigger.  It was then that Michael looked back at him, and motioned for him to stand up and come to the aisle, all the while, acknowledging his good looking red shirt and pants, as the audience clapped and the spotlight shone  on him  It was like I was in a bubble of unbelief.  There was Randy, actually speaking to Michael Feldman!  I knew he was excited.  He did great.  I thought he was still at break, but when the director announced the taping to begin again, Michael led Randy back down to the stairs, and onto the stage.   And there he sat, sitting across from him, on air, in front of a sold out crowd, speaking into a microphone that delivered his voice throughout the country! It was like a dream, but I saw it myself!

One of the questions ask, was "What is a love sack?"  I had no idea, but since it was Valentines season, the conversation could have gone in a variety of directions.  That made me nervous.  However, having the seat next to me empty now, and seeing my husband on a stage far away, I knew, without a doubt, that no matter where the conversation went, Randy would not go "there".  The man is filled with integrity, and even being a fan of the show, he knew coming in,  it was a good environment.  It took two different callers and three different questions before the caller finally knew the answer.  Luckily Randy agreed with him.  He also knew the other answers, but had to concur with the caller for a final answer.  (By the way, a love sack is a big bean bag chair.)

Most of his life, Randy has been unafraid of public speaking.  I have watched in awe as he has smoothly and eloquently expressed his views and knowledge, from church, to work, to city events, to school boards. . . And I knew it meant a lot to him to pull this "Whad'yaknow" game off with class.  He did it with ease, even though his heart was pounding frantically.  (OK, mine, too.)

The kids were also proud.  That's why he chooses the integrity road.  The kids will always know his priorities.  Carianne, upon hearing about his being chosen, replied,  "Of course you were chosen! You know everything!"  Julianne replied on face book,  "My Dad Randy. . . . I am so proud!"  It didn't hurt to have strings of comments and likes from his fan clubs, eaither.  What a shot in the arm.  He'll be floating for weeks!  And in case you want to hear a recording, it's programmed to the exact second on his i phone!

It really was a fun time.  The red shirt won out over Disney.  And Randy added yet another fun adventure to his bucket list.  Whad'yathinkisnext?

http://www.notmuch.com/wyk/february-13-2015-chandler-center-arts-chandler-az

It was a good weekend!