| It was a long, uneventful summer dotted by my attempts to get on Stupid Human Tricks on Letterman's show. For the three people out there reading this who don't know, I can jump rope my arms. This self
taught circus trick has gotten me more laughs, raised eyebrows and 'oh no, not again' sighs than I ever deserved to receive in my entire life. After a series of fruitless letters and phone calls, I received a message on my answering machine. It was from a young intern from Letterman's show who calmly described my act as 'stupid and human', but declared the trick an ability, and apologized for not being able to use it on the show. Bummed, I spent the last couple weeks of summer preparing for school. When I
got off the plane and started my way through the terminal, I saw a small, old man with gigantic black glasses on. Unlike most of the people bustling through the airport, I recognized Calvert right off.
I introduced myself, posed for a picture and he was bewildered, but happy to talk. Excited, and ready to prove Letterman wrong, I asked Calvert for a minute of his time. I put down my bags and quickly went through the whole routine - at the time I was so young and limber I could jump rope my arms forward and back. He smiled back at me when I was done, and told me, "You have something there, you should try again."
I never did try again, and all the saddness of not making it on Letterman wore off - I got to spend five minutes with Calvert DeForest in person. He was a funny man, and its sad he's no longer with us.
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