The room was full of people in long dresses, high heels, tuxedos and people from all corners of the world dressed in ethnic costumes. There was an intense but low hum throughout the room. Some were busy greeting old acquaintances while others wanted to make new ones. Everyone in this room had a story to tell. Probably up to several interesting stories. This was the 113th annual dinner of The Explorers Club. We were almost two thousand people gathered on Ellis Island out in New York harbour this Saturday night in March. There were astronauts, divers, mountaineers, people who had sailed far, possibly in fragile old vessels to prove how migration happened thousands of years ago, there were volcanologists, storm chasers, archaeologists, scientists of all kinds and expedition people from all over the world. It was really a very interesting gathering.
They all had in common a genuine interest in other people and what discoveries, expeditions and stories they had to tell. I basically had no stories or merits to share so I stood a little off to the side of what most resembled a beehive. I had a glass of wine and just stood and observed the rituals. My girlfriend who is an archaeologist and board member of this club was as usual in circulation and talked to one acquaintance after another and introduced those she knew with people they had never met before.
I noticed in the side view that a woman I had met earlier now had a steady course towards me. I pretended not to see her in the hope that she would pass by. But she had no intention of that. I looked up and pretended to be both surprised and happy to see her. It was not that I wasn’t happy to see her because she was always very fun to talk with. But I’m not very good at small talk so I’m usually on the edge of the hive with a glass trying to look a little mysterious and unapproachable. It may well be that I just look weird. Anyways, this woman was right in my face now. We both smiled and exchanged the polite phrases that were expected. Over her shoulder she had a fur stola which at first I thought was an ermine or something like that, but which turned out to be the fur of a whole coyote. We exchanged some stories and commented on some of the people in the crowd before she suddenly asked if I would try on the coyote. I’m not shy even if I withdraw a little from the crowd – so I said; bring it on!
But the coyote should obviously not be over my shoulder. The coyote was going to be on top of my head. If not for the tuxedo, I now looked like something out of Game of Thrones. The coyote did the trick and acted as a magnet, and many spectators came over to comment and take pictures. Both with me, and of me and the coyote. “You´re so badass!”
After this session, I was drawn more into the ring, and even though I’m not the king of small talk, I had some stories lurking. Americans always love to talk and hear about people who have come up with something out of the ordinary. Once I got started, why not point out one of our greatest polar explorers – who even got married in minus 28 degrees Celsius at the North Pole. “I want to do that!” said a woman standing next to me. “You go girl!” I replied. We became a small group that hung out before the actual dinner started.
The next day I had a faint hangover after an optimistic visit to a whiskey bar on the way home to the hotel. My girlfriend had long ago left for the club up on 70th street when I woke up in the morning. As usual, I checked my phone for emails and messages. An email lit up with the subject line: Wedding at the North Pole! And continued; It was so nice meeting you at the dinner event last night! Discussing Arctic explorers was wonderful and intriguing! Next time I go exploring, I’ll be stopping by your place! Hope to see you soon!
It is possible that she perceived something other than what I thought I was saying, or that I was possibly too accommodating or said too much. But that kind of thing can easily happen when you are not the king of small talk, but have a coyote on your head.
Billy Bronco is telling you 