Nuns , Cumberbatch, Frozen Peas, and Rituals

 I am an extrovert, getting my energy by being with people. So it is difficult for me to be writing all day. I take breaks by checking on some fun websites for me, including Sherlockolgy- a site dedicated to covering news on the Master Piece Theatre show Sherlock. That's why so much Sherlock material is appearing on my blog, but the articles are providing terrific fodder and search engine hits.

One of the more recent posts on Sherlockology was a link to an article about Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch. Apparently, he was in a testy mood or stardom is getting to him, as he constantly used the "f" word and made not so nice comments about fans. Specifically he said that
"....it’s a bit weird when people see you in the frozen pea section and start flipping out."  He also commented about requests for signatures, stating:

... what the f*ck is this need for proof we all have? Why do people need me to ruin the front page of a book with my terrible signature so that they can prove that they’ve met me? Will no one believe them otherwise? It’s f*cking weird, and you don’t question it until it happens to you
http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/tv/benedict-cumberbatch

  Yes Benedict, it is weird to have someone ask you for a signature. At the book party for my book - for the book I wrote and published - it was still amazingly weird to sign a copy. I never have understood the need to get an actor's autograph, because usually they don't write a book. But I thought about this some, and the above comments.

1.  Get back to Yoga - Your rather surly comments indicate a need to center and ground yourself. You usually appear to have an amazing about of both qualities in interviews, so sorry if you were having a bad day. But think about it. Those people in the frozen veg section may be barely able to afford the frozen peas, and here they see someone who is making a fantastic amount of money doing exactly what he loves to do. Most of us don't get that chance, and many of us must settle at being happy to be able to afford peas and broccoli.

2. You should meet the Nuns of the Bus (nunsonthebus.com).  They will recruit you to join in the cause to stand on the side of the poor, homeless, and hungry. You might be able to buy some people some frozen peas by donating the the nuns or some of the shelters they visit on their tour of the U.S. Maybe Brad Pitt would also recruit you to work on Habitat for Humanity, (but you'd need to clean up your language if you were around his kids.)

3. Ritual - You should know about ritual from the monks in Tibet. Ritual is so much like acting in many ways. It doesn't always make sense why people do either one, but there is something of play, entertainment, and soul speak going on in both. Asking a star or even an author for a signature may very well be a ritual behavior used to honor success. I suspect it is also requested in hopes that some of the success will be transferred to the person receiving the signature.

 I'm sure it's annoying being successful and earning good money, will all the fans and paparazzi. I promise that is I ever meet you I will not ask for your signature, but I would be very happy to sign a copy of my book for you.

P.S. Please do check out assisting Nuns on the Bus, Habitat for Humanity, and other fine organization in the U.S. and U.K. that are working to aid those in need.