CBSNews (AP Photo)
I checked my voicemail from the warmth of the piano bar in the historic Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, where I was traveling for business this past week.
“Hi, it’s _____ at the Post. I’m probably going to need to hold your story – not because I don’t like it, obviously, I love it – for one week because, uh, Arafat looks like he’s going to die if he hasn’t already and I’m going to need to do something on that, and with all the election stuff the only thing I have that’s not timely is your piece."
Boy, if I had a dollar for every time I've heard that lame excuse.
When I called him back, I pretended to be understanding.
“Oh, no problem, ____. Sure, the following Sunday’s Outlook will be fine. Yes, uh huh, yeah, OK, I’ll work on that section, no problemo.”
Inside, I’m seething. Hold my piece! Not timely? Grrrrrrrrrrrr. The nerve of these editors. Bumping me for this Arafat guy, whoever the hell he is.
What about my readers – both of them – who’ll be scanning this Sunday’s Washington Post "Outlook" section, looking for my piece, and all they'll find is a bunch of commentary on the elections and a near or by then actual eulogy?
Sheeeesh.
I can only hope that next week the world will be a less exciting place, which is not a bad thing to hope for in general, but particularly when getting an article published is on the line. I mean, let's keep things in perspective, shall we? Balance of power in the Middle East or my "not timely" essay?
My essay, of course!