Dave Dickson Comment
Nov 25, 2009
I TRULY LOVE MY ROLE AS A TALK SHOW HOST AND MOST DAYS RE-AFFIRM MY BELIEVE THAT I HAVE ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING JOBS OUT THERE. I GET TO TALK TO INCREDIBLE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ON COUNTLESS, FASCINATING TOPICS. NOT ONLY DO I GET TO MEET THESE GUESTS IN PERSON OR OVER THE PHONE, BUT THEY ALLOW THE LISTENERS AND ME INTO THEIR WORLD, EVEN IF IT’S JUST A BRIEF MOMENT.
ON TUESDAY I HAD ONE OF THOSE DAYS. I INTERVIEWED A MAN WHO DECIDED TO SPEND 12 MONTHS ON A REMOTE ISLAND IN THE PATAGONIA REGION. THIS PLACE IS ON CHILE’S EXTREME SOUTHERN COAST AND IS 10 HOURS AWAY BY BOAT FROM THE NEAREST HUMAN SETTLEMENT. FOR MANY PEOPLE THIS WOULD SEEM LIKE THE LAST PLACE THEY’D WANT TO GO FOR A YEAR BY THEMSELVES. I KNOW IT ISN’T ON MY BUCKET LIST.
BUT THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF THIS JOB. NO MATTER HOW FOREIGN SOMEONE ELSE’S EXPERIENCES MAY APPEAR, THEY CAN STILL BE RELATABLE AND INTERESTING TO MANY. I COULDN’T IMAGINE HAVING TO BRING IN ENOUGH SUPPLIES TO SURVIVE FOR ONE YEAR. THERE’S NO SUPERMARKET OR CORNER STORE IF YOU RUN OUT OF FOOD. FISH AREN’T BITING, THAT’S YOUR PROBLEM. THE SHELTER YOU BUILT BREAKS DOWN IN THIS EXTREMELY WET AREA, BETTER FIX IT. THERE’S NO ROOM AT THE INN. I WOULDN’T LAST A WEEKEND ALL BY MYSELF IN PATAGONIA.
HIS EXPERIENCE IS ALMOST LIKE TOM HANKS IN CASTAWAY. EXCEPT MY GUEST CHOSE TO BE THERE. HE HAD TO EXTRACT A TOOTH WHILE HE WAS AWAY AND SUFFERED A SERIOUS FALL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM IT. THERE WERE NO DROP IN CLINICS TO HELP HIM OUT. THIS WAS ALL THE WHILE WORKING WITH A PROSTHETIC LEG.
HUMANS ARE SOCIAL BEINGS AND TALK SHOW HOSTS TAKE THAT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. WE LOVE TO INTERACT AND SOCIALIZE TOGETHER 365. I KNOW I DO. BUT ACCORDING TO MY GUEST, HE FEELS WE SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME IN SOLITUDE. MAYBE NOT FOR 12 MONTHS LIKE HIM, BUT WE SHOULD STEP AWAY FROM OUR COMFORT ZONE TO GET TO KNOW OURSELVES. NOW I THINK THAT’S A GREAT IDEA IN THEORY, I KNOW MYSELF TOO WELL TO MAKE THAT A REALITY. BUT I CAN’T WAIT TO MEET SOMEONE ELSE TODAY WHO HAS A GREAT TALE TO TELL. IT’S JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE.
