Did he smell?
By Carrie • Apr 19th, 2009 • Category: NewsWe’ve been really lucky with the weather here in Seattle, but for me, the most unique thing that I’ve found here are the audiences…… For those of you who haven’t seen my show, there’s a section in it where I ask the audience if they have any questions about what it’s like to wake up next to a corpse who was very recently a beloved friend (like I did with my friend Greg Stevens)
The questions are past mind blowing——–
A sampling—-
Greg Stevens
“Did he wet the bed?”
Did you put pennies on his eyes?
Did you do it?
What did you serve for dinner?
Did you try to wake him with a stick?
Was he smiling?
Did he struggle?
Do you miss him?
And my personal favorite,
Did he smell?
In all the cities that we’ve done the show——& we’ve played A LOT of cities—— these are the weirdest questions that I’ve been asked by far……
We flew down to LA this last weekend so I could get my hair colored & so I could get an ECT treatment…..
I needed a little juice to help me get myself off my back….
(not to be confused with talking about myself behind my back.)
When we first started doing the show here the audiences were less responsive, but over time they seem to be enjoying themselves more & more…..
So that’s really nice.
We had someone in the audience earlier in the week named, “Erica”, so the Engineer of my Elsewheres & I thought that perhaps it was one of the Blog Ericas…… Even if it wasn’t, I seem to be a kind of Erica magnet. My core audience being alcoholics, addicts, gay (both sexes), mentally ill & people named Erica……
Don Henley
I will close with a poem I wrote on a manic high in Australia & then sent it as a telegram to Don Henley…..
Go look in the mirror
See what Jesus did to your head!
See it up there, glowing softly,
See it say the things it said..
Why does your head howl without your say so?
Why does it play so, round the clock?
Between a rock & a hard place,
Your heart’s the hard place,
Your head’s the rock!
Talk to you soon
XxOo Cf
Saw the show April 15th. There were some good/weird questions… I thoroughly enjoyed myself, thoroughly enjoyed the show… and, as far as gay goes… only for you! Ha!
Love the poem.
hello again!
glad seattle is turning out ok – maybe the venue has a wierd acoustic and you’re just getting used to it… i know that sounds really wierd but a venue where i work is acoustically designed so that the sound from tage gets projected really well but hardly anything from the auditorium comes back…really bizarre when you’re on the front of the circle rigging lights and the people on stage can’t hear you shouting yet they can talk to you normally…loads of people come off stage and think the show must be going to pot cos no-one is laughing…when actually they are, it’s just the acoustic!
hope the weekend back in LA was good too – i had a weekend in LA once, didn’t have ECT but did get electrocuted by my laptop thanks to some dodgy wiring in the wall……
anyway just wanted to say hope there haven’t been too many arseholes in the audience – i think all the arseholes are over in the UK in the moment – particularly the one who broke the wing mirror off my car AGAIN only three weeks after i just got a new one… maybe i should send you all my broken wing mirrors and then when you get these idiots in your audience you can give them one of my old wing mirrors and tell them to take a long hard look at themselves….
have a good couple of weeks & hope the wierd acoustic / audiences / questions get better!!
sarah
Thanks for the new blog, those questions are kind of weird, people are just curious, gotta laugh. Glad you are having a good time in Seattle and that the weather has been ok. Take care, not an “Erica”.
LOL
So is Don a friend?
So glad things are ‘looking up’ for you in Seattle! Good for you for getting whatever help you need and thanks for sharing the thought-provoking telegram. Looks like I am not in your ‘core audience’ but that doesn’t mean I love you any less – you are the absolute best, Carrie!!!
Hey Carrie I’m glad to hear that your audiences are getting more responsive….
Most people have never met a recent dead body so I guess those are legitimate questions one would ask; what else could people ask??? I’m sure you have heard them all…I should ask my brother these questions since he was the one to find my grandfather.
I hope one day to see your show…since I don’t live anywhere near Seattle I filled the void and bought one of your T-shirts I hope it’ll come in the mail soon
Hi Carrie,
Saw your show last night. LOVED IT!!! You are incredibly funny and courageous. My friends and I loved it and admire you all the more. One thing I would’ve also loved to hear is about your experience working with Woody Allen in Hannah and Her Sisters…being the co owner of the Stanislavski Catering Company. Great stuff. If you and your friends ever need a tour guide of Seattle (isn’t this a great city) I’d be happy to show you some great sights. PS Putting your Leia pic as an example of BiPolar Disorder is just plain wrong. You are inspiring and again, on behalf of my acting friends (who study under the Stanislavski tradition) we salute you. Bug Hugs, Tom
I like the poem.
My grandfather died in his sleep, next to my grandmother. He’d been ill for a long time so even she said it was more or less a relief, to not have to worry any more that he might go in some really horrible way surrounded by hospital machinery. And at the time, I wondered that first question too: did he wet the bed? But you can’t really ask your greiving grandmother that…. The more I hear about Wishful Drinking in Seattle, the more I wanna see it. Think you’d bring it to the east coast someday? I’d even TRAVEL to see it in person
And I’m kind of attached to where I am, so that’s saying something.
-j
Did he ? Smell ?
I really wish I could get out to Seattle to see the show! Maybe you should come play Anchorage, Alaska sometime… you could rip on Sarah Palin in her home state! There are a great many Alaskans who would agree with you, myself being one.
I think if I woke up next to some one dead..my first thought would be “missed, motherfucker.”
[...] Carrie Fisher on her core audience: Alcoholics, addicts, gay (both sexes), mentally ill & people named Erica…… [...]
So did he smell or not?
W
Hi Carrie! I like that poem; you definitely are a woman of many talents. I wish that I could see your show; unfortunately, I don’t live near Seattle at all. I have all of your books, and I’ve enjoyed reading every one of them. I need to get a copy of “Wishful Drinking.”
Take Care, and “Best Wishes” on all of your future endeavors. P.S. I was watching “Star Wars” on Spike TV this weekend, and it was a treat to see “Princess Leia” again. I’ve been a fan since 1977. 
I just got back from seeing your show at the Rep tonight and I’m now even more in love with you than I was before (which is saying something.) My husband may just have fallen into the category of men Who Were Dragged There by Their Wives but he was laughing so hard that I know he wasn’t lying when he called you a genius after the show. Good luck with the rest of your run here at the Rep (and I think it’s just the Rep subscribers who tend to be conservative… not so much Seattle in general.)
alcoholics, addicts, gay (both sexes), mentally ill and people named erica..
a therapists wet dream..I wonder if any of them (therapists) wait out the front of your show looking for their next customer.
your poem was..interesting..actually it looks more like the lyrics from a nirvana song than a poem..you can add song writer to your resume now.
Hey Carrie! I haven’t commented in a while and I see other sarah’s have come along.
I really wish I could come see the show! I’m crossing my fingers you come to Broadway, which is a far more do-able road trip.
Speaking of road trips, I will be tripping to Detroit for that comic con and will get to meet you. I’m am very excited and have even bought a special shirt for the occasion I think you will enjoy. Its my first comic con and I’m excited to go to one.
That poem was delightful. Thank you.
Sarah T (the first of the sarah’s (: )
Hi Carrie,
I promise we have weird questions to ask here in Dallas too. Come visit!!
Hugs, G
Hey Carrie!
You should come to Austin.
We probably have more gays, addicts, & weird people than any city between the two coasts.
Some people call us the seattle of the south.
Actually a cool artsy laid back town.
And I’ve got a couple questions that are even better than those listed
Hey Carrie! Glad to hear the Seattle audience is improving… I just gotta ask- are you a friend or enemy of Don Henley?
Please come back to DC! I loved you!
heey,
I’m laura.
I am 14 years old and I am from the Netherlands. Therefore the text maybe a little strange!
I got in March for the first time Star Wars look and I am quite a fan of! all my friends are crazy that I start over again Stone!
I was on 1 April birthday and when I received a keyboard for my birthday. I wish now the pieces are trying to play on my keyboard.
I am now quite a fan of Princess Leia and (Cerrie Fisher) you. (blush, blush):)
I translate everything with a translator on google. sound a bit strange maybe it can not! (haha):)
I want you please e-mail? please? I know that you do not tog because you no time for it but I ask tog but you never know!. want to please you my e-mail to send back?
Jes-xxxx laura
p.s. I know it is not so good english!
Oh, how I wish that were me at the show. But it wasn’t. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen the ‘other’ Ericka on here lately. Mostly me spamming you, I think. But its fun to read other people’s responses, and as a result of this, fellow commenter Sueprano and I have friended each other’s blogs over on Livejournal, so see that? You are introducing people and helping to make friends.
What color is your hair now???? Is it different? I’m so hair sensitive. When I saw you at Berkeley, it was blonde. I thought it was adorable, especially with the glitter.
I am glad the audiences are getting better. At Berkeley, the night I went, the audience was a bit hesitant to volunteer to come up on stage. I wanted to SOOOOOOO badly, but the bit doesn’t really work with a girl.
My question about Greg was if you ever felt his presence in your house, if you are a believer in that sort of thing. But I wasn’t called on. I think the guy who did get picked asked if Greg was cold. goodness!
Glad to be magnetically drawn to you,
Ericka xo
having experienced the corpse-before-breakfast ordeal, here’s a few great questions they missed:
1. did you dress him before the body snatchers got there?
2. what did you do with the sheets? (and if you still have them, can i buy them?) (morbidly infatuted much??!)
3. how stiff was he? (either context)
i give you oodles of credit for incorporating the experience into your show. hope to catch it someday myself.
interesting poem, and yeah, it does sound kinda nirvana lyric, but without the grunge overtones.
‘Twasn’t me.
But I’m stealing the phrase “alcoholics, addicts, gay (both sexes), mentally ill and people named Ericka.” It’ll be the title to my autobiography, starring me and whoever are my 12 closest friends when I write it (names to be filled in later).
Dear Carrie,
Effexor XR 375mg daily; Bupdropion XL 150mg daily: Clonazepam .5mg twice daily: and Ropinirole 2mg at bedtime.
My meds for my depression/panic/RLS (yes restless legs IS a real affliction, thank you very much). ECT is starting to sound good.
It was my husband who got the tickets to your show and we both had a great time! Funny. Smart. Well acted. Great presentation. I can’t wait to tell my counselor all about it!
Have you given any thought about your acceptance speech if you win the Tony?
My best wishes to you for continued success in your life.
Sincerely,
Cheryl
P.S., I have never ever used my Princess Leia Soap.
“My core audience being alcoholics, addicts, gay (both sexes), mentally ill & people named Erica……”
LOL!
You forgot the “picket fence whites, 9 to 5, who are just alive” and being dragged to the show by their wives!!!
I really liked your previous idea of distributing earplugs and a copy of that smutty German book – they may actually learn something while ignoring your performance…
Carrie, come to Baltimore (or at least D.C.!). I will be your faithful servant.
<3,
Dara
Carrie,
I’ve never woken up to a dead person, but I’ve gone to bed with a few.
P.S.
Don’s a master of giving voice to the heart – if I could even become half as good.
“My core audience being alcoholics, addicts, gay (both sexes), mentally ill & people named Erica…”
Well, I’m definitely not an Erica. But you did collect another gay. Aren’t you thrilled? *grin*
Heya,
Mentally ill – Tick.
Of course I have many sides, I am not a box.
Dead people make me cringe, in a box or not.
Sunshine and Rainbows,
Andrea
Another fabulous blog. Thank you.
I’m thinking I should change my name to Erica as I proudly meet all of the other Carrie Fisher Fan profile requirements.
Hi.
I also just read WISHFUL DRINKING. well, actually I listened to the book on tape, which I really liked, especially because you read it. I really like the humor and sarcasm, although really the story is pretty depressing. the book gave me a whole different perspective of, well, people’s lives in general, i guess. I am looking forward to reading your other books. i also would love to go to a live show, but I live in Cleveland and i doubt you will come here…. don’t be inclined to. I am also a fan of STAR WARS, i admit.
My question is, what exactly does the ECT DO? because it seems like you say that it kind of erased your memory, but then talked about all the things that you remember about this and that…
That’s all for now. Thanks!
Shoshana
P.S. i’m really glad you made this blog.. it’s very cool!
Another Erica who attended your show in Seattle last night and really enjoyed myself. You truly are insane and clearly, finally, enjoying it (or at least by all appearances). Gives hope to those of us who havent quite settled into our abnormal psyche as comfortably.
Hi Carrie!
My name is Greg Herrmann I am 60 and a Fine Art Photographer and sometimes Television Producer and live in Garrett,
Indiana. I read Wishful Drinking! I laughed out loud. My new friends in Garrett call me Papa Smurf and my Parents met
during WW2 somewhere around Seattle and My sister was Born In Tacoma. Thanks for writing your books!.
Under seperate cover I shall be writing a business letter to you via the book publisher. I hope to see you in Detroit.
Break A Leg as I hope to see you perform Wishful Drinking! Oh I am a Pisces and have done a Live Childrens TV show.
AKA Uncle Grego
Peace and Blessings
Sincerely,
Greg Herrmann PS my Parents were fans of your Parents
Hi, Carrie!
Saw your show in Seattle April 8th, glad we’re being less of a stick in the mud than when I was there. (Oscar in the front row that night excluded since his stick is way too far up there to remove). I appreciate you living with CMI with style and candor. It makes it easier for the rest of us with CMIs to keep trudging when the possibility of expression through glitter spraying popguns can be an option.
Kindest Regards, Heather
P.S. The local rag called The Stranger is a newspaper with nothing nice to say about anyone. Their reviewer was obviously absent or his drugs hadn’t kicked in yet.
Aloha Carrie,
I could not put your book down. I read the whole thing last night!
Thank you for the escape without drugs! I can’t wait for your next book.
I love how you communicate, so real, so human. A true gift you have.
Please continue. Life can be tough somedays and I need this escape.
Jan
Hope the ECT went well. As a fellow bipolarite I had ECT and it sucked more than watching a Sarah Palin speech. Best of luck with the show. We saw you in DC and laughed very hard.
New here. You have been my hero since my parents took me to a small movie called “Star Wars” when I was 11. You were the bravest women I had ever seen… and still are. I met you at a comic on in Plano (Dallas) and you mentioned your grandmother’s name is also Katherine. I could have passed out from happiness.
Bring your show to Dallas, please, I beg of you.
That Lab Kat person who posted a comment is a friend of mine (Hopefully she still is after my questions) and linked to your site so here I am.
I do have a few questions for you since you will never come to Fort Worth because everyone thinks it is a suburb of that dreadful city Dallas.
Did you become fridged after sitting next to Jaba the Hut or whatever the hell the puppet’s name was?
Since you have been in a lot of movies and are a talented actress do you wish to slap people who only remember you only as Princess Layher… Sorry that was the X rated version of that little flick Star Wars…Princess Leia?
You played the Nun in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” have you ever been to a Nunnery? If you have been to a nunnery do they request spankings like in “Monty Python’s The Holy Grail”?
What kind of perverted sense of humor do you have to have to be in one of Kevin Smith’s movies?
What kind of perverted sense of humor do I have to have because I like the movie?
If you see a person with the bun hair that you had in that small movie Star Wars do you wish to cut their hair off?
Thank you.
I love the way you’ve narrowed down your core audience. I’ll have to ask another Erica I know if she’s a fan too. It’s funny how many of them there are. Anyway, I can’t wait till the con! It’ll be my first one, and for some reason, I’m thinking I’ll be the only one there without a lightsaber. I’ve heard most people dress up at cons & I don’t have any costume-ish stuff. Either way, it’ll be awesome.
Hi Carrie,
Just wanted to say that I read your book twice in December while I was (ummm…please don’t laugh) in a mental hospital. Anyway, it was the worst hospital experience I have had thus far (and I have had several despite being in my mid-twenties)–now that I don’t have health insurance it’s like a whole different LEVEL of psychiatric hospital whatever-the-f**k-ness! Anything goes when the hospital is short-staffed and packed to the gills with really sick sick SICK people. It’s so sad. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for bringing some much needed joy to my life while I was away on my vacation in hell over Christmas AND New Years. BTW Satan is really disguised as a nurse named Tabitha (in case you were wondering
. Sooo as I was saying, I laughed my ass off reading your book. I especially loved the vignette about the “Dianoga Poo Poo” and just about everything you had to say about Star Wars and mental heath (or lack thereof) and being a celebrity… God, what would we do in this world without humor??!!! Well, I will wrap this up, but I really admire your moxie and wit, perseverance and courage. Wish we could have a chat over coffee sometime. Hugs and best wishes for continued success. Oh, and I am bi, but thankfully my name is not Erica 
–Amanda from Louisville, KY
Hi Carrie! I’m so excited to see your show tomorrow…I’ve wanted to go ever since I saw the cover of your book and laughed out loud all the way home. I was very happy to see you in “The Aristocrats,” and promise that my partner and I will not be boring Seattle conservatives at your show, but will probably be yelling your name and being super annoying. Keep rockin’! The criticism stuff is hard, something I’ve been soul searching on this year…the only thing I can think of to say is to remember that who you are exists apart from what everyone thinks of you. That, and that it’s what you do that matters, not who you think or say you are or what others think of you.
Didnt I leave something here the other day? WHEN you discover WHO this is and WHY I like you…it may be too late. BUT the best thing about SOUNDING a bit crazy…is NOONE takes you seriously, untill they have NO choice. I couldnt sleep too late this AM…because the street out front was gettin an early morning BLOW…so I through in the DVD “True Lies” for the tango thing that it took “Black Power” (aka Schwartzenegger) a LOOONG time to learn to do well (THAT was ALWAYS the problem with the “Wunderkind”)…a tad too much selective in BREEDING (and you thought YOU had issues)? What a GREAT flick…epic…exactly like Tombstone only a little different. AND if you thought the princess was an icon of Mammalary delight…you should see Jamie in this one…OMG…THE singular (as in your mind) BEST fully covered (as in clad…”fully clad”..( I tone it down for women),strip tease (is THAT an oxymoron (the fully clad strip tease??) see how the luster diappears???or what???) in movie making history. She is still magnificent…what does that say about the old and the “infirm”…(I fear I resemble (err…resent…as in…”I resemble that”…instead of…errrr… ya know FISH if I have to expalin them all…it looses its shine somehow…speaking of Shining have I mentioned Jack Nicholson’s (used to be) fabulous work lately???)? (and YES, this started as a question) that is why I used the mark (as in…errr there goes the shining again). If you ever want someone to watch Monty Python with, (who never misses even one of their liners (as in “oneliners” not garbage can…liners???) see how the Shining comes off when I explain them all?) call….someone.
That actually was one consistent thought and did you catch the misspelled word I through in (I tone it down for women…YOU get one hint…as I say in the chat rooms…”scroll back”. OK, “spelling errors”…dont they make software for that?? THAT one slipped through (no the spelling error…GEEZ…).
Carrie,
My stomach hurt from laughter after seeing your show in Seattle last night. Your performance was nothing short of AMAZING!! Thank you for your honesty, humor, and for taking us on your roller coaster ride!!
Just read your book. I kept laughing out loud (being 55, I still spell that out) and reading portions to my husband. When I was young, my parents took me to a nighclub in Monroeville PA. The comic said, “They say Eddie Fisher is a has-been. I don’t know about that, but. . .look where he has been!” My dad had to explain to me that “has been” referred to Elizabeth Taylor.
I also remember reading a fan magazine at a beauty parlor a couple of years later about an oceanliner trip where your mother and Liz were both on board, sort of a battle of the titans. It was a pro-Debbie article, comparing pictures of your mother’s modest amount of luggage (maybe two suitcases) with Liz’s 12 trunks and cases. I was definitely rooting for your mom.
So your family has provided me with fond memories, which is an insensitive way of looking at it, but I’d NEVER ask if a corpse smelled.
fantastic poem
Well, in my experience with corpses they usually don’t smell. It depends of if gases were beginning to escape from the body and if the funeral home has done a good job at embalming the body, etc.
I just got back traveling from my paternal Grandma’s funeral as she passed away in her sleep at home on Sunday morn, which BTW is the best way to go. She didn’t smell just very cold. I traveled with my maternal Grandma and my younger sister, who is my half-sister we share the same mother. Well, my FUN in funeral was when my aunt thought my sister was my older sister, which was fun for me not for her. (We’re 7 yrs apart) And a much older cousin thought I was still in high school.
I had my 10 yr reunion a few years ago.
I am glad you are having a better turnout at your show. Now those morons are gone and it’s laughs, laughs, laughs from now on. I knew they would. I love Seattle I could so live there. I would have asked if you gave him an ECT treatment to try and “shock” him back to life. Hey it worked for Frankenstein.
Anyways, keep up the good work looking forward to more books, still reading Postcards but so much has happened in life. I am like 5% into it but like it so far.
Shanda
Dear Carrie,
This is the only way I could find to send a message to you, so I hope you don’t mind if what I have to say isn’t pertinent to the rest of the “Blog”.
I just finished reading “Wishful Drinking” and I wanted you to know how much I appreciated it. I’m a Bipolar I, ultradian rapid-cycler myself, so naturally I was interested in reading the story of another “kindred spirit”.
Thank you for your honesty, your humour and letting me read about this disorder from another person’s perspective. You really got me to laugh at myself.
All the best with your show and if you have ever given any thought to bringing it to Canada (Toronto would be good), please keep giving it some thought.
Yours sincerely,
Timothy Earle
London, Ontario, Canada
P.S. I have been working on my own book on BP for a while now, so wish me luck!
My wife and saw the show last nite as an anniversary treat. Great show. We had read the book before seeing the show so we knew what to expect.
It’s just so much better hearing it from you Carrie!!! I hope that I can learn to laugh at life the way you have.
Thanks to Jim and Marcelle and Jean Paul for being such good sports with you last nite!!!
Keep laughing and keep the world laughing and enjoy Seattle. We’re glad to have you here.
So very sad about Greg. He looks like such a vital person. Death is so bizarre in that someone is there one moment and completely gone the next. (and particularly unsettling when it occurs in your own bed!) Although I do grief counseling, I’m always stunned by the finality of death. I know that this happened a while ago but my heart goes out to you, as I imagine that you still miss him.
Dear Carrie,
I’m working on a book reconciling my relationship with my adoptive father, who passed away in 2007. He was an alcoholic and was visually impaired, and in the work I am seeing the world through his eyes. I would like to send you a draft of the book
Link to the project: http://billvolckening.com/Bill_Volckening/Photography/Pages/His_Son.html
Many thanks,
Bill
Loved the book as I’m “bipolar & alcoholic in Minnesota”~! perhaps the name of my mental-a-log blog I’m thinking of starting after my job layoff @ 51! Ha, what fun! I’ll travel and see the sights on unemployment! 3 of my 4 kids are in Army, Navy and Marine Corps so should be interesting.
See, we bipolar peeps just go off on a tangent and never know where it’s going to end!
The book was super and you’re a great read online as well, glad I entered your blog!
Ciao fellow mentalist!
C.B.
UMMMM…would someone tell me why MINE are stilll in “moderation”?
Caught the matinee on Sunday, great show! This is my first time checking out your blog and just want to let you know that (a) you are my favorite author, (b) I can never wait for your books to go to paperback, I have to buy the hardcovers as soon as they come out, (c) glad the ECT is working out for you, and (d) as to your post prior to this one, asking for tips about critics… I usually find, if you look hard and holistically at your critics, that the ones who are the most ruthless, those who tear you and your work limb from limb – those are the people who most wish they could be you. The more cruel they are, the more likely it is that their words, or stares, are borne of jealousy, and what they hate is not what you do but that you have the courage, and the talent, to do it – and they don’t. Once I realized this in my own life, I could look at those people and instead of letting them get to me, I feel sorry for them, and at the same time, I have a sense of self-satisfaction that I get under their skin. I mean, seriously. You’re Carrie F***ing Fisher. Who the hell are they?
Hi Carrie,
My fellow and I saw your show 2 weeks ago, and we absolutely loved it! So much wit and wisdom; thank you for sharing on such a personal level.
Last night, we were watching old reruns of the original Addams Family, and much to our surprise, you were NOT the first to sport the earmuff double-bun hairdo! Cousin Melancholia in the episode “Morticia, The Matchmaker” (Vol. 1 on NetFlix) has the EXACT SAME ‘DO! We could not believe it, and thought you should know- if you didn’t already. Enjoy Seattle, it was an honor to have you come and share with us
Hi Carrie,
Did he smell….that is an absolute blast of a question. And, mind you, I bet people have a lot to ask about when you start taking questions on this.
Having seen my share of dead people (not in an M. Night Shyamalan kinda way), I have to say you´re the first person I know (OK, I don´t really know) that has had an experience quite like this (sleeping with a corpse). What I have that comes close is my great-great-great-uncle who was killed in action while not at war, if you know what I mean. But I never knew him, dead or alive, nor his unfortunate bedmate to ask her the pertinent questions.
I always thought death was like ths age related thing, the older you get the more dead people (or once alive people) you know. But life (and death) have proved me wrong, there´s always a steady flowing supply of death coming through all life long. Strangely enough repetition in this case doesn´t wear the novelty of it or answer whatever questions you may have on it.
I don´t worry about my own death though. I always figured its one of those things, like worrying about being a burden to people when you´re old, when you get to the stage of actually being a burden you can´t be bother to notice it anymore. But I have to say that the death of others, that worries me.
I have some great questions to ask you though, but I guess I´ll save them for when I´m at the audience of your show.
All the best to you hopefully sleepfull in Seatle (or no longer hair challenged in L.A.),
Luisa – Rio de Janeiro / Brazil
If you haven’t gone to see Carrie at the Seattle Rep you are really missing out! Insightful, insane and just plain funny…Carrie truly brings it! Yes, some people don’t get it but in general most did and were thankful for the experience no matter what their walk in life is.
Carrie don’t let the ignorant or uninterested get you down, it’s their loss of a good life lesson…you are beyond great! Keep it coming! See you again on May 9th…that’s how good you I think you are!
Sharon
OMG! I just heard about Broadway! Congratulations! I knew it was only a matter of time. I already emailed my mom and told her that when I go visit her back East later this year, we’re coming to the show! I’m excited for you, i’m excited for me, but mostly thrilled that one of the best shows I have had the pleasure of seeing is going to be on Broadway. Thank you for creating it, and bringing it to all of us.
Ericka
xo
Carrie, just heard about Broadway! CONGRATULATIONS! I will definitely see you there! So excited!
Seattle audiences are weird in lots of ways. (Something to do with the rain?) They’re really stingy with the laughter, for one. And they’re wrong about that. I had an absolute blast at last Saturday’s show. Of course, that was my husband on stage in the Princess Leia wig, so my show was a little better than everyone else’s!
Rob and I are looking forward to seeing you again on the 9th. We’re hoping to fill in the gaps that we missed because we were laughing so hard the first time around.
Noelle
Carrie,
I saw the show on April 24th and thought it was FANTASTIC! I’m a tough critic – and I have to say I laughed the entire time, and fully appreciated your willingness to share your life with your audience. I called my mother the next day – and told her if Carrie Fisher comes to Cleveland – GO! oh…and don’t take Dad – cuz you need to go with someone who appreciates Carrie and her humor. Take your girlfriends! I say this – because the guy next to me sat their like a slug the whole show, and while I didn’t know him I felt he might need some ECT.
I also wanted to invite you to a unique restaurant in Seattle called FareStart. Yes – I’ll admit it, I’m biased- I work here! But – we are unique in that we are a restaurant that trains individuals who are homeless, moving out of addiction, etc. And – we have the best food in town! Ask around – there will be folks who know us. I ask – because I think some of our students find you incredibly inspiring, and they would be honored to serve you a great lunch! I also want you to see a unique piece of Seattle that shows it’s heart.
Thank you for a FANTASTIC show! You’re ability to engage the audience and ad lib is a true talent,
Megan
just thought i’d add my congratulations too…… i have to get tickets… guessing that’s as close to home as you’re going to come with the show for now – but hey, a 7hr flight is better than a 14hr one..! hope seattle’s treating you well, the last lot of ECT has worked its magic and you have a great last week or so of the run.
sarah
I LOVED your new book! Any chance that you could be visiting Minneapolis with your show anytime soon? I saw you back in 2006 here for the Women of Substance Series and you were wonderful. I can’t get enough of your wit and insight…more books and shows please!
Leann in Minnesota
Fantastic news Carrie! You have totally earned Broadway…I know you your shows will sell out! Congratulations…revel in the reward
Sharon
This is a serious question. My husband is bi polar. He can’t have ECT because of a heart condition. He take so many pills, and he hates it. Lately, they’ve hardly been helping. Carrie, do you know of anywhere we he can go to detox and start over again? His psychiatrist doesn’t. Unless, he suicidal… which fortunately, I don’t think he is.
Thanks… LC
By the way…. in spite of your illness, and because of it, you always make me laugh… thank you so much
WAY TO GO CARRIE!! Congratulations on Broadway!!! You deserve it!
Carrie,
So glad to hear you’re going to Broadway! Congratulations! It’s certainly no surprise to anyone who has seen your show. By the way, I now have the only book of yours that I *haven’t* yet read––”Delusions of Grandma”––and I’m dying to finish the other book I happen to be reading so I can get to yours. I hope you we will see more of your novels in the future. Not only are you a brilliant performer, your storytelling is totally captivating. Wishing you all the best!
––Joy
Carrie, you are so adorable. I’m totally psyched to see you on the 8th of May [you are my early birthday present]!
Not all Conservatives are jerks…lol! My hubby and I have very open minds and love people from all walks of life. I grew up very poor and lived through a lot of abuse and hardships and cruelty…so, your story isn’t really all that unusual from my perspective, only you had the rich and famous and I had the poor and down-trodden.
Anyway, I’m pickled tink to see you for the first time in my life. Thank you for such a neat opportunity for us WA folks. I’m still pinching myself. ha-ha! This will probably be the last big ’splurge’ we can make for the entire year but I know you’ll make it well worth it.
There is something so raw, gut-wrenching and purely honest about opening up your heart/mind/soul to others to help heal yourself as well as heal others too. Your gift of writing/acting/poetry is a mirror into your kind and genuine self.
On May 8th, please ask for Angelina T. to stand-up! I’ll be there with bells on with my hubby Tony.
(((supportive hugs))),
Angelina =0)
doing the happy dance for Broadway !!!
seriously thought i might have to change my name to erika to increase the chances of getting you within driving range.
i guess having all the letters somewhere in my names was enough
yeah, like that was exactly what did it
’scuse my delusions of grandma, er…grandeur
Dear Carrie, Congrats on Broadway and a much bigger time than Seattle. You observed that Seattle folk are conservative. Actually the western part of the state is quite liberal BUT we find all the reasons in the world to be politically correct and if conflict arises or the veiled prospect of conflict looms, we become NICE, friendly, and frankly boring. No room for passionate debate. This is particularly true of the male genus.
I was the “Phil” at your show April 30th who described ECT as taking care of our gray cells as we gray and add years to our personas, no big deal, part of the aging process. Though I know, from my own real world, that ECT/
depression/bi-polar/addiction are all big deals.
I still think that George Lukas was influenced by J. Edger Hoover (perhaps his ghost) who was reputed to enjoy wearing women’s underwear, while also being a fantastic ‘boss’ to my father who was an agent and spy in Chile in WWII (his cover was being a playboy for RKO Studios, drinking with the Germans in Santiago)– tough duty!!
I do think you should reconsider that fellow’s offer of marriage or at least getting together. You quote Samuel Johnson as referring to remarrying as a matter of hope over experience. But did you know that his marriage to Tetty Porter commenced when he was 25 and she was 46? Wikepedia data will follow this note.
I want you to know that the clove cigarette will “accompany” the cigarette butt I retrieved at age 10 when I helped the Spokane police find a bank robber and they knocked his cigarette from his mouth as they confronted him on the porch of a house where his girlfriend/housekeeper usually was but alas it was her day off! The robber wore a white shirt that looked green with all the money stashed inside (note the ironic parallel of where the glove cigarette found its first home).
The couple next to me told me I must be a ‘plant’ in the audience because ‘our routine’ was too good. I take that as an honor and good chemistry, or at least luck!!
Your show with your candor that accompanied so much humor was absolutely a joy. Thanks for giving your heart and soul to a work that has so much meaning underlying all the laughter.
Phil
Wikepedia information re: Samuel Johnson:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Johnson_Wife.jpg
this link will include a picture of Tetty
“Johnson remained with his close friend Harry Porter during a terminal illness,[51] which culminated when Porter died on 3 September 1734, leaving his wife Elizabeth Jervis Porter (otherwise known as “Tetty”) widowed at the age of 45, with three children.[52] Some months later, Johnson began to court her. The Reverend William Shaw claims that “the first advances probably proceeded from her, as her attachment to Johnson was in opposition to the advice and desire of all her relations”.[53] Johnson was inexperienced in such relationships, but the well-to-do widow encouraged him and promised to provide for him with her substantial savings.[54] They married on 9 July 1735, at St. Werburgh’s Church in Derby.[55] The Porter family did not approve of the match, partly because Johnson was 25 and Elizabeth was 21 years his elder, and Elizabeth’s marriage to Johnson so disgusted her son Jervis that he severed relations with her.[56] However, her daughter Lucy had accepted Johnson from the start, and her other son, Joseph, accepted the marriage later.[57]
Between 1737 and 1739, Johnson befriended Richard Savage.[72] Feeling guilty about living on Tetty’s money, Johnson stopped living with her and spent his time with Savage. They were poor and would stay in taverns or sleep in “night-cellars” except for nights that they would roam the streets because they lacked the necessary funds.[73] Savage’s friends tried to help him by attempting to persuade him to move to Wales, but Savage ended up in Bristol and again fell into debt. He was committed to debtors’ prison and died in 1743. A year later, Johnson wrote Life of Mr Richard Savage (1744), a “moving” work which, in the words of the biographer and critic Walter Jackson Bate, “remains one of the innovative works in the history of biography”.[74]
Tetty Johnson spent most of her time in London ill, and in 1752 she decided to return to the countryside while Johnson was busy working on his Dictionary. She died on 17 March 1752, and, at word of her death, Johnson wrote a letter to his old friend Taylor, which according to Taylor “expressed grief in the strongest manner he had ever read”.[100] He wrote a sermon in her honour, to be read at her funeral, but Taylor refused to read it, for reasons which are unknown. This only exacerbated Johnson’s feelings of being lost, and his despair after the death of his wife, and John Hawkesworth had to take over organising the funeral. Johnson felt guilty about the poverty in which he believed he had forced Tetty to live, and blamed himself for neglecting her. He became outwardly discontent, and his diary was filled with prayers and laments over her death until his own. She was his primary motivation, and her death hindered his ability to complete his work.[101]“
I saw you in Berkeley and asked “What was he wearing?”
I needed a good laugh, and tonight I got many. Thanks, Carrie, for a phenomenal performance. I’m thrilled to have seen the show before you left Seattle. You’ve inspired me to return to writing my book, though I’m not sure my stories are quite as colorful.
Hi Carrie! Please, please plan some East Coast shows (CT would be great!)!! Many of my friends would love to make it a girls night listening to you reflect on some of the highs and lows of your life.
Carrie Fisher
Do you actually read these? I have nothing to say about waking up next to dead people. I stumbled across this website, found out about your new book, read it and came back to this website and found all these blogs, I am assuming, are actually written by you, if you’re even reading this! Do you know what a breakthrough this is for me?! I spent from the age of 12 to the age of 15 writing letters to you through the Star Wars Fan Club and always getting back the same stamped autograph picture. Yes, I was a Star Wars fan, but only because I loved Princess Leia and wanted to be just like her.
Although I can’t say I haven’t been influenced greatly by being a Carrie Fisher “wanna-bee”, I can say that I am not the fanatic I was twenty five years ago. Fear not. But, I did actually write my own story of why Princess Leia became my heroine in 1980. I wrote the story about 10 yrs ago. I’ve let my parents read it – - they were puzzled from the get-go. And, I’ve let my kids read it. Writing is therapeutic!! But, I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir on that one. Are you sure you read these?
Well, I just wanted to let you know that you are amazing! I love reading your books and I will always be a huge Carrie Fisher fan. If you only knew! I did have the Princess Leia soap – “Lather Up With Leia”, but I never used it. That’s just kinda wierd! I’m so glad you are still going strong. I live in Utah and am very close to Vegas. I hope you do your show, there. I will definitely be in the audience.
“Best Wishes, Galactically Yours,”
Susie
Sound familiar?
Carrie,
Hi and thank you for enriching our lives over these many years with your craft. I don’t imagine you can know to what extent you’ve impacted people’s lives; suffice it to say, you have, and significantly.
I was going to see your show, but now I’m not sure I fit the demographic
. No, I’ll go.
My company has just been acquired and I’ve moved to Seattle, and I just love it here, and as you’re just down the road, I have to see your show.
And if you’re not morally opposed to having dinner with a huge fan, well, I would happily oblige.
Carrie, I read somewhere you would welcome a demonstration of the existence of God.
That would be cool, wouldn’t it?
You and I are kindred spirits, and I feel I know what you mean.
I’ll make a deal with you. You read my book A Strange American (it’s free, and located at http://www.astrangeamerican.com) and I will purchase and read any of your books, per your recommendation.
I’m not professing my book is the demonstration you are looking for, but it certainly does frame a life reminiscent of yours in something that seems to be a teleological context.
Well, thank you again Carrie, and good luck with your tour and Broadway.
Best,
Kenth
Congratulations on Broadway!!!
(Cue the fanfare)
I have to get tickets for this is a one in a life time opp, as most broadway shows become bus and truck companies, so I can see them another time when they come to Reno. But yours, is one in a million (so I’ve read).
I finished Postcards from the Edge. Really good work. I can’t believe you wrote it at that age. We’re (were) the same age in the book.
I want a mooning birthday welcome and cake, too.
Carrie, I saw your one woman show in Berkeley with my mother. She was struggling with pancreatic cancer and confined to a wheelchair. The show was a wonderful time for us to spend together. Wishful Drinking was funny and powerful and we enjoyed ourselves very much. We were the “lost cousins” that you were kind enough to meet backstage before you met with Carol Kane. Thank you for that. I know it meant a great deal to my mom and it was very special for me too.
My step-mother had been back to see the show several times and my brother saw it in DC.
So thank you for your wonderful performance that my family has enjoyed many times over the last year. You also gave me a very thoughtful wedding gift (that glows in the dark) which was by far the most original gift we received. So thank you for that too.
Carrie, I just found out that Wishful Drinking hits Broadway in the fall of this year!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!
I’m going to have to go see one of your shows because I fit EVERY category of your viewing audience! I’ve always been a big fan of yours anyway. Especially when I realized we had the whole recovering from drugs/alcohol (five years and eight months) and manic depression thing. Add in my flaming gayness and I’m the perfect picture of your viewing demographic! Yea!!!
I think my favorite question was “Did you put pennies on his eyes?…”
LAWD, I know that person was NOT serious!
I would have dead panned, “I put Daisy blossoms in his eyes and did a monologue playing Jodie Foster in ‘Nell.’ “
Hi Carrie,
I’m just checking out your “blog-site” for new entries…but you seem to be busy with your shows – I hope that you are doing well…and that the audience is nice!
I’d like to come back to your “the kind of audience that I attract” statement…and I’m thinking “why not get to know your blog audience a bit?”…
I learned about depression when my sister was diagnosed with a heavy depressive episode (I don’t really know what the correct term for it is in English) two years ago.
She had hit rock bottom and couldn’t do anything but lie in bed because she was so afraid…afraid to think, go outside, meet people and so on…
At the time I discoverd and read your book “Postcards…” and it really helped me to understand what depression is and how “vague” the grey area between sane and insane is…
To be honest, almost anybody could be affected by depression, bipolar disorder etc…because these illnesses reflect one of the many aspects of being human, I guess.
As a child, I knew you as the “infamous” Princess Leia, of course, but that is not what made me like you.
On the contrary – the fact that that you’re living with this extremely stressful illness made me respect you and gave me confidence that my sister will be better one day and, in fact, she is doing fine now!
So, what I really wanted to say is that this will be the eightyth comment on this topic which says a lot about why people like you: not because you look like Princess Leia – it’s because some or many of them know how much strength it takes to lead this kind of life, to continue living your life while battling the illness every hour of every day – you are a great inspiration to me ( to us)!
Greetings from Germany, Anja
Carrie, I just finished your book, Wishful Drinking. I have been sober and and active member of AA for 19 years. Boy can I relate. I understood every word and laughed my ass off. You are a true gem….and great actress , a hilarious writer, and a true credir to women in recovery. Thanks for taking the time and energy to write the book. I know it will touch many hearts and help many alcoholics. I hope your show comes to Ohio. I will bring a bus ful of women.
I just discovered your blog — wish I would’ve read the poem above when you posted it on my birthday. The last time I tried to check out your website over a year ago it was down, so I’m glad that it’s back up and running. The poem reminded me of what Doug Stanhope said during “No Refunds,” about the circus in your head starting up and refusing to shut down at the most inappropriate of times. I hate when I think that I just want to relax, but I can’t stop thinking. My dad tried to sedate his manic-depressive alcoholic state with more alcohol; I’m usually able to sedate my demons by breathing through a bong. Kill them with cannabis.
Your shirts and books are on my wish list. I’ve loved your writing ever since I read your Reader’s Digest article a couple of years ago, about the stranger you encountered while driving. The story was short and sweet, and your sharp wit that I detected made me think of the Sedaris family (my personal favorite writers are Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert). I’m a fan of poking fun at anything and everything.
So… did he have morning wood?
I have been a huge fan since I read an article you wrote about Roasanne Barr for Vanity Fair (I believe) or was it the New Yorker? Long time ago! From that point I have read just about anything you have published and can relate to your wit and sick humor – ha! I have also thought about your work as a “screen” doctor and have you written any screenplays that might be brought to life on the big screen? Have you read the book, She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb? This, I think you could adapt (not that you are following a strangers advice, but sometimes it’s good to have an outsiders opinion as we have nothing at stake other than a possible t-shirt or something that might be autographed or a copy of your latest book or even that Rosanne article) for the screen.
Additionally, are you going to come to New Orleans or anywhere in the south? Maybe Texas, as everyone goes to Texas (and I am not sure why). The gays and addicts of New Orleans really need you to come here for a night or two. Think about it, won’t you? I recently brought my older sister to rehab – I think she’s drinking already (two month later) but seems to have a better grasp – or is at least pretending. (Can you tell I am ADD?)
Next, I have a great idea for a TV script (I know we always want something, a mere show isn’t enough). The title, Vicariously Through Allison. I won’t pitch the idea but perhaps you could give me an idea as to whom I might. I am not so interested in fame as I am in getting out of the south you understand. Ha! Also, I have another idea for a TV “talkish” show titled The Round Table. On the Oprah-esq show thee would be well, a round table and 6-8 guests would be at the table, all invited by a person who wrote in to the producers to host the Round Table. For example, if I were to host the Round Table (a dinner party atmosphere so maybe this needs to be Showtime as the party could get out of hand) and the guests I would invite would be: You (being that you helped me get the gig and I think you are funny as shit), Fran Lebowitz, Lily Thomlin, Wanda Sikes, Chelsey Handler, Amy Sedaris, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Kathy Griffin (and maybe Sandra Berhard but I may have to save her for a future date). Then, a topic would be given to the guests ahead of time and a date set. What do you think?
My Fellow Libran:
I have just finished Wishful Drinking, the tale not the ale, and found it quite entertaining, albeit abbreviated. It’s a binge, not a bender. I went to sleep with my hamster on the Hollywood 101 wheel and awoke at 2:08am to a paternity theory: I believe Cary Grant to be your biological father. It would explain why Puff Daddy was an errant parent, leaving you as a not-so-heir-apparent. You’re swarthy like Grant was.
I also think your brother’s biological brother was actually Mike Todd. It would explain the obvious disregard for Jewish superstitions. Besides, you said the foursome shared EVERYTHING. Perhaps Eddie felt justified in consoling Liz with his penis, having lived two years with her husband’s child as his own.
I mean, Eddie could’ve been semi-impotent, seeing how he courted an endless stream of female forms (as indicated by his book), yet only managed to pump out 4 pups, especially in a pre-pill era.
Just saying.
Mentally yours,
LA (Borderline Personality Disorder) Parker
P.s. I don’t own a tv (insert gasp here) but my friend says you put the rock in 30 Rock!
Proves you can find it on ebay.
He is really so sweet!