Three and a Half Minutes of fame

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Today’s Blog Post


Three and a Half Minutes of fame

It is really funny when I think about it. So very funny.

It was less than a day when I was waiting for my Big TV Debut… and then poof it was over in Three and a Half Minutes.

The TV station and I had made contact about the tatting that I do. They suggested that they were coming to do a report on the Lace Making – the Tatting that I do.

As you know my Tatted Christmas Tree at the Peterborough Festival of Trees had drawn some attention in our community.

I was excited and ready. We arrived a little early and set up everything. The tingle of possibilities was racing through my veins. Just a little excited to say the least!!!!

Earlier as we spoke on the telephone there was what seemed like a great interest in the Lace. We spoke of the possibilities. The shooting would involve about 15 minute of time on the already busy CHEX Newswatch@5:30 segment, just before the news. It would mean that they would need about an hour to spend with us getting all the possible video and shots to mix together and complete that portion of the program.

“Theresa or Michelle” would be there. Then Michelle called me a few weeks ago to confirm and ask for further details, making sure that we were ready. She had some suggestions about getting some folk to sit with us and do Tatting.

My excitement was heightened even further as I got ready for the Big Day – my TV Debut.

The day before, a call came from “Meaghan” asking if we were still on for the shoot at around lunch time. The original shooting time to start at 9:30 AM to 10 AM was changed to 11 or 11:30 or maybe 12. Michelle had called about that.

Meaghan is the local part time Sports Reporter who fills in when the other guy is away or on holidays. She also does the community reporting and steps in to help the Newswatch@5:30 Program.

Meaghan and Kevin the camera man arrived at about 11:30 AM. We walked around the Tatting Display table and talked about Tatting… and what I do. Meaghan was very kind. Kevin was very efficient and knowledgeable.

Before we started the camera rolling and me talking I was chatting with Meaghan about their day. They had been at an Indoor School Skate at an Arena. A number of classes from a local school were doing a ‘public skate’. Michelle and Meaghan had been skating with the kids, and Kevin has been shooting the footage that would be on TV. Lots of fun for sure.

I turned to ask Meaghan how long this portion(Tatting) of the Newswatch@5:30 would be…

She looked at me and said, “Three and a Half Minutes…”

I guess I must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights… DUH!

After weeks and weeks of getting ready, after weeks and weeks of telling all my friends that the One Big Day and One Big Opportunity to Tell the World was going to be the TV Shoot of December 8th…. I was now going to have to say all of it in just Three and a Half Minutes….

The TV station and I had made contact about the tatting that I do. They suggested that they were coming to do a report on the Lace Making – the Tatting that I do.

For two nights I had been talking lots at Lang Pioneer Village and the Christmas by Candlelight – as I reported earlier. With each lump of people that came through at the Lang event I had to adjust what I was saying.

Three and a half minutes… okay… ready… set… GO!

Pause here… I had asked Meaghan earlier if she was ready to do the Tatting lesson that we had discussed with Michelle. That had been Michelle’s thing – to try it… or at least it seemed that way.

Nope that didn’t happen.

Again… ready… set… GO!

“Welcome to Newswatch@5:30” chirped Meaghan, “We are here at the Peterborough Square with Murray Lincoln who is going to explain to us the beautiful art of Tatting… Murray what can you tell us about Tatting…?” (ready… set…GO!)

Lights were on… Camera was rolling… and now TALK TALK TALK… and TALK some more. Don’t worry just talk… and so I did.

Meaghan seemed to be listening… I think… there definitely wasn’t enough time to have her try it. That part almost made me giggle as I spoke.

The camera panned and kept running as I talked and talked and talked for Three and a Half Minutes.

Meaghan didn’t interrupt but rather listened trying to find a place in the Talking that I was doing… to slip in a question or two… you know keep engaged in the Three and a Half Minutes.

I was motoring through all the 210 seconds that I was given… and no one was going to stop me.

Thank God for a great Cameraman – Kevin! This dude did more for Tatting than I ever will. The shots were amazing… and the close ups supreme!

And I did it… all 210 seconds in one take! Quickly – cleanly and without a hitch.

Kevin was packing up his camera stuff to head to yet another shoot in another town.

He shook my hand, kind of in a congratulations thing… and said… “You sure have the Three and a Half Minute thing down good!”

Yes! Recognition for my amazing Talents! Finally! I have made the biggest splash ever! I did the entire history of Tatting from its rudimentary beginnings on sailing boats with bored sailors… to men with dirty hair that finally started taking more regular baths and thus stopping the need for the doilies on the back of the couches… to the fact that using tatting on the beautiful Christmas balls was helping to bring back a kind of revival of sorts. I told the story of my Great Grand Father’s carved tatting shuttle and how my grandmother was taught by him at about 8 and that 88 years later she was tatting up until she passed away and that now in my family my granddaughter now represents the sixth generation of tatters…. GO! GO! GO!... there is the finish line… 200 seconds… GO! GO! GO!

Then the beautiful Meaghan’s voice is heard, “Thanks Murray for this demonstration of this beautiful art...now over to Dr. Doug…”

I won! I made it to the 210 second mark!

Considering that the Olympic runner can do his 100 Hundred Yard Race in just under 10 seconds… I had done 21 – 100 Yard Races and wasn’t even out of breath!

Too darn funny.

And yes Kevin… I sure do have the Three and a Half Minute thing down pat… for 35 years in churches I have been trying to keep people awake in church… and 210 seconds is a Long, Long Long Time!

I AM A TATTER! And I can talk faster than anyone and I do it with a shuttle in my hand! Wahoo!

Hey - Michelle, Theresa, Meaghan and Kevin - I aced out - this was super and I do appreciate your help... I got Three Minutes and Forty Two Seconds!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Resource:
Watch CHEX Newswatch at 5:30 - December 8th program
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adTEUC9-NDY&feature=player_embedded