AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS >>>

I first fell in love with David Sedaris after discovering his Holidays on Ice book on a friend's coffee table. The book's hilarity and satirical descriptions of the author's experiences with elf jobs and prostitutes so grabbed me I dismissed myself from company rather rudely to finish the book of short stories in another room, while my husband was left socializing solo.

I fell deeper in love with author, cultural philosopher and satirist when my husband surprised me with tickets to see Sedaris read and speak in Seattle as a Mother's Day gift. We got stuck in traffic and only caught about 15 minutes of the performance. I was pissed, but tried to console myself with the fact that I could meet Sedaris in person and get an autograph. But, I was pissed once again as I saw the un-godly length of line to see him. Instead of standing painfully in heels for two hours, I suggested we wait over martinis at a fancy bar down the street. After a three-martini chat, we stumbled back to the Sedaris line. By that time, the alcohol had enhanced my previous grumpiness, and it was all I could do to not cuss in every face I saw. Luckily, there were only a few people left in line. Sedaris and his boyfriend were waiting behind a desk, looking terribly bored and pleasant all at once. As I approached, I had the thought to ask Sedaris to please write some words of encouragement for an aspiring writer. I was hoping for a sentence or two designed by the Sage Sedaris, whose flowing words would keep me inspired and aloft. Staring at my one eye closed to steady my balance, grabbing a whiff of my Grey Goose and olives perfume, he wrote, "Keep Typing."  It was a sobering statement. I didn't know whether to be thankful or more pissed. I decided to love him even more.

Anyway, I'm not the only one who loves Sedaris. According to Lacey Leffler, marketing director for Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Tacoma loves Sedaris, too.

"We've been presenting David Sedaris at the Pantages Theater since 2003 and our patrons are always requesting that we bring him back, so we've been trying to present him at least once every two years," Leffler told me. "This year is particularly exciting as his show coincides with the April 23 release of his new book, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls."

King's Books of Tacoma's Stadium District will be on site, fully stocked with all books by David Sedaris and a few titles from his recommended reading list.

I suggest getting there early.

PANTAGES THEATER, SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 7:30 P.M., $34-$79, 901 BROADWAY, TACOMA, 253.591.5890