You know the Erma Bombeck Writing Conference has gone mainstream when Mo Rocca does a story on it.  It will be featured on an upcoming episode of “CBS Sunday Morning”.  That means — I’m sorry to say — every white person 70+ years old will now know about it.  Watching CBS Sunday Morning is mandatory once you hit AARP age.

Rocca is a funny Mo … uh, Fo.  He’s sarcastic and snarky, but always with a twinkle in his eye.  You can tell he takes great delight in asking off-the-wall, quirky questions.   And he’s a phenomenal storyteller … often crafting intricate, humorous confections sprinkled with bon mots.

Mo was definitely in his element at the conference surrounded by other humorists and satirists.  None of them tried to trump his ace.  I think the authors realized they had met their match.

Every time Mo would walk around, he was just another face in the crowd.  Either the menopausal set doesn’t know who he is … or they don’t care.  I was a “Rocca Stalker”.  I introduced myself at lunch and batted my eyelashes in a veiled attempt to get on his good side.  I’m a firm believer that you can stand by funny people and glean insight in to their brilliance.  I call it gaining moxie by proxy.

When he interviewed Craig Wilson from USA Today, I ended up firmly planted in the background of the shot.  The producer walked up to me and asked me not to make any sudden or abrupt movements.  Looks like I picked a great week to give up epilepsy.  I listened to the Q&A between the two.  It was both catty and chatty.  I think he might be one of my favorite interviewers.  He asks one serious question followed by something completely absurd.  From what I can tell, Rocca never takes any potshots or hits below the belt.  That would be beneath him.

I’m always one to ask the inappropriate question or go for the jugular.  Maybe instead of seeing how low I can go … I should ask myself how Mo can I go.