Tel Aviv to Lake Wobegon: Insights on ego

Where a Colombian reporter helps me get a picture with one of my favorite artists.

Tel Aviv to Lake Wobegon: Insights on ego
Downtown Minneapolis (photos: Ami Kaufman)

Well, the Twin Cities are turning out to be as charming as a metropolitan slab of concrete can get. The food’s not too bad (let’s face it, it ain’t New York), the people are the nicest I’ve met, ever (!) – and they’re simply two very handsome towns.

Oh, and I met Norah Jones.

Yup, the World Press Institute Fellowship ain’t just about discussing the First Amendment! Hell no! We meet celebrities, too!

After a long day taking care of logistical issues for the program, we all poured into the WPI van (which I like to call the “scoop-mobile”) and drove to downtown Minneapolis, in search of a… wait for it…. wait for it…: Target.

When we got out, Diane “Eagle-Eye” Duran from Colombia caught a glimpse of singer Norah Jones sitting in a bar with some friends. To say that Diana was “excited” of this sighting was an understatement. Having said that, I’m quite the fan myself. Not only that, when my wife-to-be and I had to chose which song would play as we walked down the aisle during our wedding, it was Norah’s “Come Away With Me”.

Diana and I told the group we’d join them later, and entered the bar. She was determined to get a photograph with Norah – and to be honest, I kinda wanted one, too. But I’m not as gutsy as Diana (ego issues?), who simply got out of her chair, and as I followed her lead proceeded towards Norah and asked her for a photo.

Tel Aviv to Lake Wobegon: Insights on ego
Norah Jones, Diana Duran and some dude from Bat Yam

To say that was Norah “wasn’t too happy” about this is also somewhat of an understatement. Even my little wedding anecdote managed to squeeze the smallest of smiles out of her. The Mona Lisa was more convincing. Was it ego? Was it because she was with another band who she was about to perform a few songs with? Was it because she’s tired of this crap? God knows.

So, Diana and I returned to our beers a tad disappointed but quite happy that the operation was a success nonetheless. Something for the grandkids, right?

We learned that Norah was going to perform with her friends in the bar, so Diana and I decided to buy tickets and stuck around – a good time was had by all. The music was a good mixture of Americana, country, and good ol’ rock – while Norah stood to the side and let her talented friends shine by themselves. It was quite inspiring to see her put her ego on the side, and it was still pleasant to the ear to hear her velvety background vocals.

Tel Aviv to Lake Wobegon: Insights on ego
Norah Jones

Twin Cities, I like you. Keep ‘em coming.

Related:
Tel Aviv to Lake Wobegon: Getting settled in the Twin Cities