Charisma [was Re: [Leica] The Pope]

[r.s.taylor at comcast.net (Richard S. Taylor)]

A few years ago on a cross-country flight I sat next to Julia Child.* 
 From time to time during the flight fans would come up to her seat 
and, well, let's be honest about this, mostly fawn.  She dealt with 
all the attention with great humor and aplomb, even though she was 
obviously tired at times.  When she talked to me (on and off pretty 
much for the whole flight) I had her full attention and felt I was 
certainly the most important guy on the plane, maybe the most 
important guy in the whole world.  By the time we landed, I was a 
more than a little bit in love.

A colleague was interviewed on Charlie Rose** last year.  Same 
effect.  "For that twenty minutes I felt was the center of the entire 
universe," he says.

Charisma is an astonishing human trait, I think, and quite rare.
------------------
For Non-Americans:

*TV's "French Chef" and author of many cook books, including 
"Mastering the Art of French Cooking," considered to be the modern 
classic of the genre.  In an age of "lite" food,and low-fat cooking 
she enthusiastically encouraged the use of butter and heavy cream in 
her cooking.  Even better known for food mishaps on live TV and 
blase' recoveries from the potential disasters.  She died last year 
at 87.

**TV interviewer who focuses on politics and the arts.   His program 
is known for extended and thoughtful discussion of difficult topics.

>Eric Ladner and a couple of others have asked:
>Subject: Re: [Leica] The Pope.
>
>>Ted, I can well imagine what a moment it must have been. Do you 
>>mind telling what the other, similar, event was/<<<<
>
>It was on my first assignment in the home of the Prime Minister of 
>Canada after the defeat of Joe Clark and the mansion was now the 
>home of the new Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau.
>

(snip)

>ted
>

-- 
Regards,

Dick
Boston MA