What In the World Makes You Feel Good?

When a kid who despises idolism meets his idol

So, it's been about two hours and 45 minutes since I talked with David Granger, editor-in-chief of (in my opinion) the best magazine in publication: Esquire.

I've e-mailed Esquire tons of times without getting a response, so getting Granger on the horn was, I thought, impossible.

I got the number for the editorial office off of the Esquire Web site and decided to give it a shot anyway because I think I was part delirious. In the past two days, I've had one hour of sleep. I went through all the "If you know your party's extension number, please press ___" hassle and eventually got through to Granger's office. I got the voicemail--which was no surprise really. At the end of the message, the voice ordered (their office is in NYC after all) me to leave a message or call Granger's assistant. I left a message.

Sitting in the office, I get even more nonsensical. I didn't write down Granger's assistant's number, so I called again to get it. This time, though, someone answered.

"David Granger's office," a woman said.

"Uh. Hi, this is Gin Ando. I left a message earlier...have you listened to it yet?"

"No."

"Well, I'm a student at the University of Cincinnati and I'm in this journalism class and I have to try to talk to an editor from my favorite magazine and I was just wondering if Mr. Granger had some time to talk to me."

"He travels a lot, but let me check."

I gave her the office number and was just sitting there, waiting to hear back another "No."

She eventually called back, though, and said, "How about 5 tonight?"

Uh, yes.

But don't make any mistake, Granger's not full of himself. He was a pretty nice guy, actually. Just a little strange.

I called back at 5 and heard the other end pick up and a man's voice, "Esquire."

"Uh... hi. This is Gin Ando. Is this Mr. Granger?"

"It is. How ya doin'?"

And just like that I felt like the smallest little grain of sand on the beach. He isn't patronizing. He isn't grandiose and magnificent. But that's what really made me trip up. I was expecting someone to answer to Mr. Granger.

So I ask Granger about all these little fluffy things and some things I wanted to know personally about the magazine and formally end the conversation.

"So what're you doing this weekend?" he asks me.

What?

Granger's like that, apparently. Someone who can talk to anyone. A non-assertive figure who talks with a slight monotone and asks, "How're you?" and when you respond, "Good. Thanks." he'll ask, "Why're you good?" So I give him the fanboy treatment talking about how I love Esquire and all the little tidbits inside of it and how I'm talking to someone I really just... idolize.

"No, no, no. I mean what in the world makes you feel good?"

So, yeah. I just talked with the editor-in-chief of a magazine with publications all over the world. A man who runs a magazine that practically serves as my Bible. And he interviewed me. That's one hell of a way to start this weekend.

-Gin

The full interview will be available at www.newsrecord.org