In all my workshops -- the 12-hour ones that turned into Wishcraft, and the 3-hour ones I do for public TV and IBM and everybody else -- there's a point at which I demonstrate the Idea Party. Someone at the Memphis public TV station workshop reminded me last time of an amazing session we'd had at the previous workshop:
I asked for an impossible dream and a woman raised her hand to say she wished she could go on a cruise.
-What's your obstacle? I asked.
-I have 3. First, I have no money. Second, my adult daughter is ill and staying at my place, and I'm looking out for her. And I'd rather not tell you the third obstacle.
At that moment a man in shorts ran quickly from the back of the room up the central aisle waving a piece of paper:
-I just won a cruise for one person by running for the heart association, just a few hours ago. I don't want to go on a cruise. Anyway, I'm married.
and he gave the certificate to the women. We were wowed. She was very moved. She said (she was standing so everyone could see her) That's so nice of you I don't know what to say, but I can't leave my daughter.
A woman on the aisle a few rows back raised her hand and said, I'm a public health nurse and I have to give 10 days pro bono every year. Would that help?
The woman was flabbergasted (so was everyone but me, because I'd seen it so many times before. But this one did turn out to be unusual.)
- I think you'd better tell us your third obstacle, I said.
She sighed and said, My daughter's being stalked by her ex-husband and can't be alone.
The room fell silent and then a man's voice came from the very last row:
- I'm a cop. What's his name?
And everyone started laughing and cheering.
She went on the cruise.
And that's an Idea Party.
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