So, I can't wait to tell you about my day. Remember when I said that appearing on the Today show was the most surreal moment of my life? That pales in comparison to this morning.
First, let me start with a little setup:
9am. I jumped on my stationary bike so I could get my Best Life Challenge exercise while watching the Oprah show. A brief review of what I heard:
Oprah urged us all to chill a bit. At the top of the show, knowing we're all crazy with worry over the economy, she had a few suggestions:
"Take a breath everybody." (We all took two deep ones together.) "We're gonna be fine, America. It's all gonna be ok." (Yes, yes...but when Oprah, when?) "Let's think about gratitude." (This was oddly followed by the men's quartet, Il Divo, singing Amazing Grace. While they were brought on to spread hope across the land, I grimaced. The last time I can recall hearing this song, it was at a funeral.)
Then, Oprah discussed, with much aplomb, her favorite new gadget: the Kindle. This is Amazon.com's wireless reading device. In all honesty, I was floored she had it on the show and highlighted it so fervently. With all the talk in the past weeks about saying no to overindulged kids and tightening our own belts, I was really surprised that she had a $350 piece of electronics on the show. And she made it seem so enticing - like a must have. Afterall, if it changed Oprah's life for the better, couldn't it do the same for me? Now, don't get me wrong - I think the Kindle is pretty darn cool. I'm all for saving trees/paper...although once this gadgetry is defunct - and we all know how anything computerized seems to become obsolete moments after it hits the market - I can't image that it's biodegradable.
And yet, I really like toys, I reeeeealllly love reading, and with my horrible back, it's hard to lug my ton of books and magazines around. What I'm saying is, I'd like a Kindle, please. Oprah told us, "I just love it..." While she, of course, gave them to her audience (each already containing her newest Book Club pick), she told us at home to get one "if you can afford it." I start to consider how I will broach the subject with my husband when he gets home from work.
HERE'S WHERE MY MORNING TURNED BIZARRO.
My cell phone rang. It was close enough to my bike that I was able to see the caller ID. It read, "Oprah Show." No lie. If I didn't have toe clips on my pedals, I might have fallen off my bike. First, I had a moment of panic. Second, my body reacted before my mind could stop it and I answered the phone. Third, I heard a voice on the other end tell me that Oprah had sent an employee to my home and there was a delivery for me.
Sweating, dressed in exercise gear, I met a woman downstairs who had a wrapped package for me. It's clearly the same package that Oprah's audience all opened, containing a Kindle. I looked at this package and said, "I know what this is." I thanked her and asked her to tell Oprah thank you. I think I also said something along the lines of, "Well this has turned into an odd morning."
When I got back up to my apartment, I opened the package. There was a Oprah Winfrey notecard with the Kindle. It read:
Enjoy Robin(sic),
Wanted to save you a few dollars on this one!
Thanks for watching.
Oprah Winfrey (This was her actual signature.)
GULP!
Did I tell you that this morning was strange?!
So here's the dilemma. When I started this project, it was incredibly important for me to do it without outside financial assistance. You might remember from earlier posts that I've turned down suggestions of sponsorship, financial assistance and requests for advertising on my website. And while I consider this an art project, as well as a social experiment, I decided to do this without applying for a grant. It was vitally important to me to keep myself "honest" by sticking to the rules of the project. I needed to feel the full impact of Living Oprah, no matter how financially challenging it could get. How else could I truly reflect, at the end of the year, the real costs of living under the auspices of Oprah?
Now, in any other year, I would have been over the moon to receive a gift from Oprah. Especially one accompanied by a signed card. I'm very honored that this arrived at my door this morning. And yet it didn't feel right to accept it. Oprah never strayed from her mission in life...should I veer from my project's mission? One personality trait that Oprah seems to deeply respect is integrity. Shouldn't I maintain my own?
I was torn. On one hand, I liked the pretty present. I was grateful that Oprah did something so nice for me. On the other hand (stupid other hand), I wanted to remain ethically true to this project until the bitter end. From the get-go, the challenge was to see if it's possible to follow all of Oprah's advice as a home viewer. Having financial assistance in the experiment would have been cheating in my eyes. So, my gut said I must return the gift. My love of gifts said, "What are you nuts?!" And my mother? She said to give it back, of course. She said that it would be a conflict of interest to keep the gift. I've never given back a gift in my life, so it made me ill. I never want to hurt anyone's feelings.
So, it was with much sadness that I wrapped up the lovely Kindle - goodbye, sweet Kindle! - and wrote a heartfelt thank you note to Oprah. I should say, in the note I wrote Oprah, I FELL OVER MYSELF, saying that I didn't mean offense...but for the integrity of the project itself (finishing this yearlong list of assignments given by Oprah) - I could not receive assistance. I admire the woman, remember. I think the gift was an act of kindness - but keeping the gift (when we were told to buy one if we could afford it) would have been breaking my own rules out of greed. She would never break her code of ethics and I felt I couldn't either. I hope my letter to her reflected that the return of the Kindle was not remotely an act of ingratitude and it was painful to return it.
I had a messenger service pick it up and it should already have arrived at Oprah's offices this afternoon. Oh, how I already miss (insert Golum voice here) My Precious. Oops! Of course, I mean, my present.
Why, oh why, must I have set such lofty ideals for this project?! Aren't yoga teachers supposed to be flexible? I suppose...but not with their judgment.
Tonight I will continue reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Oprah's current Book Club pick, in it's full hardcover, gazillion-paper-page glory.
Have a great weekend everyone! I'll be back on Monday to tell you all about my bedroom painting project with Jim. Oh - and I will TOTALLY be framing Oprah's note. Remember - earlier this year we were told to frame important notes...so it's not a complete loss afterall. I get to complete another project!
(On a side note, other things DID happen on the show today: We met TV personality, Cristina Ferrare. She's a friend of Oprah's, and evidently, a fabulous cook. Her mission is to teach as all how to make a multitude of receipes from a couple roasted chickens. During the 2nd recipe, Oprah cheered, "Don't we love potpie?!" and "You are really gonna love yourself when you do this." Sounds like I won't just be making pot pie, but my self-worth is going to shoot sky high. My dad adores a good chicken pot pie. I wish he didn't live in another state, or I'd make one for him. Hm. Maybe I could make one when I go out east for Thanksgiving this November. I'll let you know if I do! I might practice on Jim first.)
Friday, October 24, 2008
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109 comments:
I never use those little texty acronyms but OMG OMG OMG! I love it! I'm totally excited for you because the Kindle looked awesome but even $50 off doesn't put it in range for me. AND I had to keep thinking of you as she kept stressing "IF IT'S IN YOUR BUDGET." I laughed, thinking, "LO must be getting to her!" but never really thinking that was it.
How lovely. Yay her, and an even bigger Yay You.
DO enjoy!
I don't understand that move. Did you swear off all gifts for the year? Since it wasn't fulfilling a "buy this now!" command, the return just strikes me as a little self-righteous and a little rude.
Anyway, I've been increasingly put off by the negative focus here whenever the show's topic has any money involved...financial responsibility doesn't mean not buying anything, and while I agree with pointing out particularly jarring juxtapositions, it gets...repetitive. Enjoy the rest of the year.
You are stronger than me, I would have kept it! I too am an avid reader, but I wanted to know how bright it was and how it worked, and you could have done a great review. Couldn't you have kept it until after the year was over? ;)
Ack-I just finished reading your post. I got so excited for you I posted my comment before I finished reading. I didn't hear her command buying the Kindle so I would have thought it would be ok to keep it, but too late now and that's just my opinion.
You are a stronger woman than I!
I'm curious where you draw lines; did you let the Today show pay for your flight? I'd have to assume yes. And I know this isn't your year of Living Vieira, but still, that's not part of the "normal" Oprah experience either. And frankly, she does so many audience giveaways (even the home chefs got the Kindles) it would have seemed to fit in to it all to me.
Still, you put my pumpkin picking to shame in the Cool Things I Did Today category!
Have a great weekend.
OMG, LO!! A note from Ms. O herself! I have been reading your blog since about May and although I do not "know" you, I must say that I knew from the beginning of the post that you would be returning the wonderful gadget--Way to go you! Oh, how hard it must have been to pack up such a nice little toy and return it not only to the give giver but to Oprah Winfrey (at least you, in keeping with the 'be nice' rule established by Oprah, you included a polite "no thanks" note!)
On the other side, just think what could have been, during Oprah's Favorite Things, if you had kept this little gift! :)
Way to go girl! Stay true to you!
Are you freaking crazy!!! Sweet Christmas Candy Canes!! Getting the gift was part of the experiment so it was ok to keep it!! Tell me you kept the card?!
Oprah sent you a gift. A gift! And you returned it? I'm crushed. What did you say to Oprah? Couldn't you have donated to a friend? You may have hurt Oprah's feelings! And she won't be sendng anything else! Damn.
Jurl, you crazy. If Oprah sent me a box of poop I'd probably keep it on my coffee table!
I'm shocked! Sounds like Oprah is taking some notice of your blog. That was cool of her to send you a Kindle. I can see your point about why you didn't feel you could keep it, but, still, WOW. An interesting move on her part . . .
Oh, LO... What a dilemma. I think it might have been OK to accept that gift, but I can understand your concern that accepting it could reflect a conflict of interest... But still, Oprah is benefitting from the attention this blog is receiving, and if she wanted to say thank you for watching, and facilitating intelligent dialogue about her show... I'm torn too, but I suppose you must go with your gut. Wow indeed!
Hi all - I just added this to the post, but you might not have seen it. It's in response to your thoughts
Oh - and I can receive gifts this year outside of Living Oprah...just nothing that helps me complete the project. From the get-go, the challenge was to see if it's possible to follow all of Oprah's advice as a home viewer.
I should say, in the note I wrote Oprah, I FELL OVER MYSELF, saying that I didn't mean offense...but for the integrity of the project itself (finishing this yearlong list of assignments given by Oprah) - I could not receive assistance. I admire the woman, remember - I think the gift was an act of kindness - but keeping the gift (when we were told to buy one if we could afford it) would have been breaking my own rules out of greed. She would never break her code of ethics and I felt I couldn't either. I hope my letter to her reflected that the return of the Kindle was not remotely an act of ingratitude and it was painful to return it.
xoLO
Oh my god! That's crazy!
But, it was a gift, right? I mean, she didn't declare that you had to buy it, so it wasn't a mission, it was just a gift!
Well, regardless of whether you kept it or not, I think it's so unbelievable COOL that she would send you a gift! How thoughtful.
WOW!
I'm back because I'm still stunned Oprah sent you a gift with a card and everything!
When I was watching the show I thought it was funny that one of the singing dudes corrected Oprah when she mentioned they sang in Rome (it was Croatia), but forgot to make fun on here because I was so stunned about your gift.
I'd also planned to poke fun at the poor woman crying over her Kindle until I read Oprah sent you one and you sent it back causing me to realize I am that woman crying. Sigh.
And I don't even want the Kindle because I hate reading on a computer screen!
I know you gotta do what you gotta do, but I still say there's a friend out there who's gonna throttle you for not just giving it to them.
I know. I'm sort of freaking out over the whole thing. Her card said "Wanted to save you a few dollars on this one!" So, I think really, she was helping me with the project. xoLO
I'm not an Oprah-watcher, but it's been interesting to read your blog about the show. I really enjoy your perspective.
I think it was a really cool gesture on Miss O's part. I admit I'm disappointed you gave it back. (The only people who should give back gifts IMO are people who are about to break up with you 10 minutes later. True story; he kept the gift.)
It was a gift, so I wouldn't have returned it. I know you're concerned about conflict of interest, but it seems kind of churlish. (Especially since she didn't say you had to *buy* it). But I'm sure it can get confusing with all the rules you have for the project. I still look forward to hearing about it as the year goes on:)
-Kelsey
LO, good addition about the letter to Oprah. You're right of course, but really (and I think your fans would agree) we were really cheering that you got a cool toy, from Oprah, something that we all must admit we dream about... As for that Kindle thing... I'm an English major, and so define myself in part by the stacks of books and bookshelves in my home... But if Oprah is reading, and wants to fall in love with
I- phones next and send me one (she mentioned on her show the other day that she finally broke down and got a mobile phone)... well... Who am I to argue? :-)
Wow LO! This is a huge day! I can't even imagine how fast your heart must have been racing when you got that package.
I love you blog and I couldn't be happier for you for all the readership and attention you're getting.
But I was wondering -- as an artist do you have any regrets about the impact your project's popularity is having on your project? It seems like things are getting sticky now that you're being offered gifts and opportunities that the average Oprah viewer wouldn't get solely because you are Living Oprah. (Like the trip to Today Show and now the Kindle). And even though you haven't signed a book deal, it's clear that you have enough interest out there to get a great offer on a book as soon as you're ready, so like other commenters have mentioned, it must be very hard for you not to self-censor yourself or try to hold something back until the book comes out.
When you started this project did you have any idea how big it would get? And, if you had known, would you have done everything the same or for the sake of being objective would you have kept things quieter (for example writing it all down and then posting it all online after the year was up)? At the very least you, me, and everyone (including O herself) now know that someone will absolutely listen when Oprah says go buy this. How important was the medium of a blog to you when you started out, and how important is it to you now?
Also - one last question I've been wondering about for a while -- are all your poops perfect now or was it only that once that you blogged about? Hope that's not too gross, but inquiring minds need to know.
Are you sick of me yet? She WAS trying to help you(and show you she knows about your project and it's cool-wink, wink) and I'm sure that there has been an Oprah directive to accept help! Next time somtheing O-wesome happens to you, please, please, blog before you make a hasty descision. Let your loyal readers weigh in.
Oprah sent you a gift.
OH MY GOD! LO!!
I screamed when I read this.
Rozetta
LO,
First off, I love reading your blog! It is always a bright spot in my day and I so appreciate the time you put into this project and how funny and thoughtful your posts are. It was great to see you on the Today show, too.
Secondly, I support your decision to give the gift back to Oprah, but only because you really really believed it was the right thing to do! I would have kept the Kindle, but hey, that's just me. You're such a good writer that I'm sure your note back to Oprah conveyed your point of view with grace!
But geez, has it hit you yet that you returned a gift from Oprah?!
Oprah said to buy the Kindle "if you can afford it." It seems as if by returning the gift you are saying you CAN afford it and therefore WILL buy it. If you can't afford it and had no plans to buy it, you could have followed her advice AND accepted the Kindle as a gift!
I've been reading your blog daily for a while now. I nearly jumped out of my chair when I read today's post at work. I can't believe O sent you a gift and I really can't believe you sent it back. Perhaps you could have requested that O hold onto it for a few more months while you finish up the project and then send it once you're done...
You've also trained me well because when you got to the part about O including a note, I immediately thought "frame important notes!"
Have a great weekend!
Why didn't you keep it and auction it off after the year was up with the proceeds going to charity? And what would Oprah's etiquette experts say about not graciously receiving a gift that was so thoughtful and unexpected? Just asking......
It's never easy to do the right thing. I can only imagine how difficult a decision this was for you. Still, integrity is all we have when it comes right down to it, and I would bet that Oprah would agree you did the right thing. Yes, the Kindle was a gift, and a lovely, generous one at that. But there are certain times when it is necessary to turn down a gift. How can you take a present from Oprah then write about her objectively in a blog? Seems to me you can't.
memegirl... the Today Show might have paid for LO's flight, but she hasn't been critiquing them and blogging about them for almost a year. They are not the focus of her study.
I say hurrah for LO! She did what most of us would not have the guts or compunction to do!
Way to go, LO!
Andrea
LO, how exciting! And yet...how gut-wrenching!!! My friend, you have major, major integrity and I do see your reasoning (and completely admire what a hard move that must have been-WOW)--and I'm sure Oprah understands. Although, I've gotta say, if Oprah sends you a gift, it doesn't really seem to impact your project. You have the choice of whether or not to purchase the Kindle--You can accept it from other people as well--Like as a gift from Oprah, not just from close, personal friends and family. Or you could have put the Kindle aside until the project is over. But, hey, no reason to dwell on it, and there's no right or wrong answer. You did what felt like the right choice for you and the project.
Either way, that's a pretty cool chain of events! What a neat story! And, heck, I'd be jazzed to get a note from Oprah! :) While the Kindle is a fun toy, it doesn't mean as much as getting a note from Oprah. Don't worry about the decision, just enjoy the ride you're on! What an interesting and adventurous year! Thanks for including us on all the tidbits of your journey!
As difficult as it was for you LO, returning the gift was the right thing to do. The Kindle is just a handy doo-dad and isn't it better to feel good about what you did and your ethics than to be able to download books? You can still read books, and you can save up the money to buy your own Kindle or similar.
Sounds like Oprah is aware of you and was careful not to say 'you must have this'. The gift was a nice idea but I would hope Oprah would have more respect for you for turning it down rather than accepting it and damaging your integrity.
One more quick comment - I think you were right to send the gift back, even as hard as it must have been. When Oprah says "buy it if you can afford it" that means you should go through figuring out whether you can afford it and then dealing with the consequences either way. If Oprah had sent you flowers or a deep dish pizza or something that would be different, but the fact that it was something on the show that she advised viewers about means that accepting the gift would have been accepting help. If the Today show started sponsoring you getting all of Oprah's favorite things that wouldn't be in keeping with your project either.
I'm new to this blog. I hope this message goes through. My sister-in-law has been excited about this for months, so I decided to look at it for the first time today. If I understand what's been going on, LO is doing what I guess some could call a type of social experiment. It appears to me she's tried to remain neutral, not terribly pro- or anti-Oprah. This must be a really stressful thing for you to do, LO. As I see it, there is no way you could remain true to your intentions if you went and took Oprah's nice offer. I may be off base here, but isn't this exactly what we're PO'd at the folks in Washington about? Many of them have sold out for a game of golf or a couple of cruise tickets. If LO took that Kibble or whatever it's called, how could we be sure of her intentions? This way, I think we can trust she has remained above board. In fact, LO, if you ever decide to run for public office in my state, you've got my vote. OldDude
wow LO, mucho kudos to you for not selling out! thats awesome! i too would have been tempted to keep it. but you made the right decision, absoluetly.
i feel a lil weird now though knowing that oprah is spying in on us... i hope you'll try to forget about that and be true to your voice! i have no doubt you will be! :)
I'm sorry but HOLY SHIT!!! When I read that Oprah sent you a Kindle on the same exact day she featured hers on her show I just about fell out of my computer chair. I literally hollered NO WAY!!! My husband, who knows nothing about your project, turned to me and was like, "What? What's going on?" I said, "Wait, I'll tell you in a minute." HOLY CRAP!!!
Personally, I think Oprah is going to grin when she gets your note and the Kindle back. I think you have just sealed your envelope of respect in Oprah's heart. Seriously.
Wow. Just freakin wow.
While that was nice of Oprah to send the gift, I totally understand why you had to return it. You cannot conduct the social experiment and stay true to your course if you accept it. In my field of anthropology, we would say that it would bias the results. Particularly, in the middle of a social experiment, you can't change the rules. After all, Oprah did not send me a kindle. If I want one, I have to consider whether the investment is worth it. That's your point, right? Oprah thinks we should have it, but it is not feasible for everyone to own one.
Keep up the good work!
Beth
OK, if she sent you the note and gift, I think then that her comments of "if you can afford it" must have been influenced by you, somehow! And that is amazing -- you are influencing one of the most influential women in the world.
I think you did the right thing -- it would have been hard for me to give it back, too (especially since I want one so bad!), but I think it is important that you keep your project clean of outside help and influences. :)
What spiritual fortitude that decision took, LO!
While I certainly understand your motivations behind returning the gift and respect your decision, I personally would have kept and just shoved it in the darkest depths of my closet until the experiment was over. That way, it wouldn't be "in use" and tempting me in any way.
But you had to do what you felt was right for you, and I fully support that.
I have been reading all of the comments to date with interest and I respect everyone's opinion. However, I have to say that I have never been more proud of my daughter. To get a gift from Oprah, hold it in your hands, and then reluctantly admit to yourself that you have to give it back is something that most of us can only imagine doing. As most of you regular readers of this blog know, I am a high school teacher. In that capacity my colleagues and I try to teach ethics daily, if not directly from books then by teachable moments and by being the best role model possible. As a teacher I would give LO an A+ for ethical behavior. You don't always get kudos for doing the right thing, but you do sleep better at night.
LO, thanks for never shying away from doing what's right. You have learned your lessons well.
Love you with all my heart!
~LO's mom
I'm with all the folks that think you did the right thing sending the Kindle back. Receiving that signed note is way more exciting than another electronic gadget.
I'm sorry I missed the show today. I'd love to know all the ways to use roasted chickens. Bargain cooking!
What a fascinating meta-dilemma ---
WWOD
Would she have sent back such a luscious, gracious gift from herself?
That is so cool that you received a personal gift from Oprah! It's already too late, but I think you should have kept the kindle. She didn't say you had to buy one, only if you could afford it. I don't think it was assistance, I think it was simply a gift.
One more thing. It doesn't matter whether the kindle was a gift or an assignment. The point here is that while LO is examining/ studying/ reviewing Oprah's shows, she should not accept gifts from her. A journalist or reporter (which is closest to what LO is doing here) can't accept gifts because what he or she writes can be construed as slanted.
By the way, I really appreciate that while there are differences of opinions on this issue, everyone is treating it- and each other- with respect.
~LO's mom
I orginally thought you should have kept it because, wow, how awesome, but after reading your repost and some of the other comments here, I agree that you did the right thing. That must have been really difficult.
--Kelsey
Maybe I'm missing something but I think you should have accepted the kindle (hey, it will save paper). It just adds interest to your project that you received a gift from Oprah. I don't think it dimishes your integrity by accepting it.
I grudingly agree you did the right thing....your Mother turned me. Damn you always right moms! I have one of my own.....
I promise not to comment on this again....
OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!
I sat watching the show this morning (as I was finishing a project for this afternoon) and kept thinking about YOU! I kept thinking "Oh, I HOPE Oprah doesn't say this is a "must" for LO's sake!"
And then she had a Kindle delivered to you! OMG!
What if you'd held onto the Kindle and not used it until 2009?
I have to admit I'm an avid reader and have truly felt that the Kindle was anti EVERYTHING I love about books. And then I saw the show and learned about all the cool stuff it does and thought it would certainly be cool.
But the truth is I wouldn't take a Kindle to the beach (I don't take my iPod either) because I don't want to get sand in it and have it ruined.
And sure, there's the whole saving paper thing, but I can't get books on a Kindle autographed to me when I meet the author and I have a lot of personally signed books. If you want to save paper, buy books from a used book store for a fraction of the new price (or the Kindle price) or check them out at your library for free.
And sure there's the whole "books cost less to download them to a Kindle" thing, but at $10 per book and the Kindle is $350, you'd have to download 24 hardbacks before you started saving money (assuming that hardcovers are $25 each).
I must say I thought it was just weird that Oprah started out talking about how everyone was hurting from the economy and then pushed the Kindle so hard.
AGHHHHH!!!! This is the best story ever...and then devolved into the saddest. OPRAH WINFREY KNOWS WHERE YOU LIVE!! AND SHE THOUGHT OF YOU!! AND SHE HAD SOMEONE CALL YOU SHORTLY AFTER FILMING!!! HOLY! SHIT! Sorry for the expletive, but I read this mouth agape and incredulous. Do you know what I would do if Oprah even acknowledged my existence? I would freak the f*** out! And, I would probably rub the notecard all over myself (for full disclosure).
But for real, The Kindle is awesome. My old boss got one earlier this summer and used it all the time on business flights. I really wanted one but couldn't justify the cost to myself seeing as my busy schedule keeps me from reading full length novels.
Anyway, I don't think it would have been a huge breach for you to have accepted it. Let's say you had been in the studio audience and you received one - would you still have returned it? If you had the opportunity to obtain one for free out of pure chance, outside of Oprah (i.e. it was given as a gift) would you refuse it? I would think that Oprah knows that some of the people who watch her show receive gifts and assistance from others. ALSO, I think a point of difference is she never explicitly stated that one should get one to improve their life, so in actuality, or so I would think, it would not be on the list of things to improve your life a la Oprah. It was just a nice gift from an admirer.
**p.s. Next time Oprah sends you a gift, perhaps you can raffle it to your loyal readers instead of returning it?? Just a very, very selfish thought...
Wow, LO! I ditto the comments from Mel and your mom. Like Mel, I believe the social experiment/performance art you are doing has now become 4-dimensional, since Oprah is reacting to you now. I think that is beyond awesome. Sort of a "through the looking-glass" experience.
I will be sad when this year is up, because I have really enjoyed following your project. Put me down for a copy of your book. I hope you'll sign it!
LO, I was so excited to read this entry that it was almost like I received the Kindle myself! But I am so glad you gave it back - it wouldn't have felt right if you kept it. Though I have to say, I personally wouldn't have had the strength.
How do you feel knowing that Oprah is watching? And listening? That is so amazing that you may have influenced her thinking - if only to make her more aware of the potential impact of her statements. Well done you!
As an aside, I love your mom! As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and I can see why you are the way you are. I am full of admiration for the both of you.
Wow - great story and great post. I'm more inspired by your commitment than anything I've ever heard from Oprah.
Thanks again for all your work - keep it up -
That was very kind and thoughful of Oprah, and also very good of you. I agree with other posters that in order to remain neutral (like a journalist) you should not accept gifts. Still, I would have at least *considered* putting it in a box in the closet until the LO project was over.
"How can you take a present from Oprah then write about her objectively in a blog? Seems to me you can't."
Exactly. I think you did the right thing. A difficult thing, but the right thing. Not that anyone's opinion but your own [and maybe your mom's :) ] should matter. If you felt it would compromise your integrity, than it would have. Well done.
SOMEONE FROM THE OPRAH SHOW CAME TO YOUR APARTMENT!!!!!
Lo, You did the right thing by returning the kindle... and I bet Oprah understands where you are coming from. The integrity of your project would certainly have been tainted if you kept the gift. I would love to know what Oprah is thinking about all of this. I wonder if she has discussed this with Gayle!
Your parents should be SO proud. Can't wait for Thanksgiving... chicken pot pie is one of my favs!
Wow. Oh wow!
Of course you did the right thing. And like many others, I thought of you when I caught the show today. I was happy O added the caveat about getting one only if you could afford it. I debated whether to suggest it to my DH as a christmas/hannukah/birthday gift this year, but the verdict's still out. It has some neat features.
I also have to add that I'm impressed with Oprah too. I think your blog is wonderful, I've enjoyed it a lot. But there are instances when you can be critical of her, or maybe snarky is the better word. I think it was a gracious, nice thing to do - send that present. I'm liking her again.
I just finished watching Oprah from today and I am so in love with this Kindle. But then I went to find your site (I saw you on Today Show) to see if you went to get it. Your integrity to your purpose was insightful and I will now not buy one until times are better. If for any reason, sometime next year they will come out with a color version so we can download picture books and comics!
I personally think you should expect Oprah to invite you to her show and she will offer to pay you back for your expenses during this year.
Sweetie,
Oprah had the guys sing Amazing Grace to remind us of the grace present in our lives. It may be a black thing, but I doubt it,although being black in America has required seeking God's grace often. I believe Oprah was simply offering her viewers what she learned growing up.
LO - You were true to your vision/project by returning the Kindle and I applaud that.
Maybe I'm too cynical but the thought crossed my mind that Oprah was giving you a little test. Which I would say you passed with flying colors.
Oprah must have been amused and curious to have made contact with you. (Be sure to use archival matte board for the note.)
Now she must also be impressed! Again you've outdone the O herself - Brava!
You did the right thing.
Tsk. I'm so sorry you didn't accept the present. Then you could have read mindfully and been grateful all at the same time!
Still, I understand and I have to say, you are a far, far better woman than I.
Hi LO!
This is indeed exciting news. I find it really touching that Oprah sent you a gift.
Was returning the gift the right decision? If you wanted the experience of actually having to decide if you could afford it, you could have just given the gift to a friend or a charity, & then decided if you could afford to buy one yourself.
Now I think your mother makes an excellent point in saying that as someone reporting on or studying Oprah, you have to maintain a scholarly distance and remain an objective observer, however an alternative view is that you are not a journalist or a scientist, but rather an artist. And I mean that as a huge complement, as I think great art often demonstrates a higher level of intellect than science or journalism. One of the reasons I admire Oprah is that I consider her one of the best performing artists I’ve ever seen, the way she is able to make viewers laugh, cry, and get energized and mobilized.
But what you’re doing is also performance art as you yourself said on the Today Show. Your life, your clothes, and your home are the canvas on which you paint a small piece of the Oprahfication of our culture. You are Oprahfication personified. You are a mirror reflecting her influence to back to her, and as an artist you are free to accept gifts.
But at the same time, there is a journalism and social science aspect to your work so I commend your desire to put on those hats too; I just hope this doesn’t discourage Oprah from reaching out to you in the future, because your self-imposed boundaries seem highly ambiguous. What if Oprah were to invite you on her show? Would that be considered a gift too, and would you also reject that?
The first time I suspected that Oprah was thinking about you was when Oprah and Gayle had an argument about a woman who was auctioning off her virginity. Gayle said it was dead wrong, but Oprah said something to the effect of “now that I know she’s doing it as a form of research it’s okay with me”. Not that I’m comparing you in any way to the woman who auctioned off her virginity, but like you, this woman was doing something that a first glance looks a little nutty, but when you look deeper, it’s a social experiment. I think for that reason she may have reminded Oprah of you, and thus caused Oprah to defend her.
I also find it interesting that Oprah said to buy the gadget “if you can afford it” which though an obvious point to make in an economic crisis, may also have been a sign that was she thinking of you (given that she sent you the gift to save you some money).
So whether you’re a scholar, a journalist, an artist, or all of the above, one thing is clear: You have influenced the woman Time magazine ranks as the most influential woman on the face of the planet, so in a way that makes you the most influential woman on the planet.
But I hope you use your influence wisely. For example, I’ve noticed that a lot of times on your blog Oprah gets criticized (either by you or others) for encouraging financial responsibility, while at the same time encouraging people to buy more, while at the same time arguing that we don’t need material goods to be happy. While this may look hypocritical at first glance, on deeper reflection there is no inconsistency. Humans are complex multidimensional creatures. We can enjoy a few expensive gadgets here and there but that doesn’t mean we depend on them to be happy nor does it mean we’re neglecting our financial responsibility, for the millions of Oprah fans who can afford expensive gadgets.
Indeed some would argue that now more than ever, those of us who can afford to should be buying as many things as possible to get the economy back on track. There’s a great tradition on American television to promote commercial products (going way back to Bob Barker on the Prices is Right and all the giveaways on the Rosie O’Donnel show) so I’m don’t necessarily think Oprah’s doing anything wrong when she encourages us to buy things, and she may even be doing a lot of good. Just something to consider, though on the whole your blog is great!
Long-time reader, first-time poster. You've got a long list of posts to go through, so I'll be succinct:
You did the right thing.
Oh my gosh! I wish you could have kept it and given the $350.00
to a charity that Oprah recommended supporting in the last year. Though your move today will probably make Oprah very curious about you now, and she will ask you to be on her show for sure.
Anon. Kathy
No way am I going to read through 55 posts, however, I'm putting myself down on the "are you kidding" me side? I don't seehow it violates your financial assistance rule as you did not seek outside funds in order to purchase this item.
Although, I doubt Oprah is so concerned with her image that she would try to buy your opinion of her show, I do understand that you want to keep your project free of any conflict of interes.
Couldn't you have given it to someone else? I'm sure there is some ex-Chicagoan living in Toronto who would really appreciate it. :)
What if Oprah sends it back with a note that says, "You must accept this."
This was a political move by Oprah. It's like Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. She has to show her audience she can stand up to criticism and still shine. You can interpret it as an act of kindness, but I'm much more cynical...she was saving face. She has to acknowledge you now, or it's just bad PR.
Holy poop -- you have huge, ummm, guts! I would be terrified if I got a package from Oprah, much less sent it back to her. You are totally my new hero!
All I could think on Thursday when I saw the commercial was how you were going to have to buy a Kindle and how I covet one so. As sick as it makes me that you actually touch it then sent it back, I'm really proud of you for sticking to your own rules. It would've been really easy to not and none of us would've blamed you. Still, thanks for keeping it real :-) That's why I keep on coming back to you here. Love it!!
I have been having some sort of punctuation dyslexia lately. I am most definitive about being on the "are you kidding me?" side.
And all my other typos will be put down to sheer stupidity.
You did the right thing.
OK, I actually own a Kindle--I decided the day that they came out that I HAD to have one (I'd looked at the Sony Reader for years and thought it was 'almost but not quite'), so I can say with great authority how hard it must have been for an avid reader to put it back in its package and send it away. It's like something you'd imagine when you were a kid...."What if I could take all my books with me instead of picking one?" "What if I could think of a book and 'poof' in seconds be reading it?" LO, I echo O...IF you can afford it, you'll love it. As for book costs, there are many low and no cost downloads for the Kindle, but my biggie is not cluttering up the house with books I wanted to read but don't care to keep. I know..."that's what libraries are for", but trust me the Kindle is way cool.
I think you did the right thing. And I think Oprah would admire you for it. I think Oprah should have you on her show when she's done.
anonymous wrote:
"This was a political move by Oprah. It's like Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. She has to show her audience she can stand up to criticism and still shine. You can interpret it as an act of kindness, but I'm much more cynical...she was saving face. She has to acknowledge you now, or it's just bad PR."
Stand up to criticism? LO doesn't criticise Oprah, she tries to stay objective. And Oprah doesn't have to acknowledge LO for PR reasons. My God, she ignored David Letterman for like an ENTIRE year, despite him begging her night after night to acknowledge him. And David Letterman has a far bigger audience than the 600 or so people who read this blog (judging by the number of people who vote in the polls). And LO's not even asking to be acknowledged, in fact, judging by her decision to return the gift, she seems to not even want to be acknowledged by Oprah for fear it will alter her experience as a viewer.
I think Oprah acknowledged LO out of genuine respect for the work she does here. Oprah has been striving for years to figure out ways to use the power of television as a way to influence lives for the better, that's the main reason she stays on TV (she certainly doesn't need the money)and remember her first goal in life was to be a teacher. And that makes LO, who follows her every word, the ultimate teacher's pet. I think Oprah has a genuine interest in knowing how her advice affects people.
Just my two cents...
It would have been easy to keep the Kindle. The hard thing was to give it back. If more people chose to do the difficult task, the world might be in a better place.
Also, not to get all cliche about this, but if it truly is the thought that counts regarding gifts, LO gets to keep that (and the personal note) regardless of what she did with the Kindle itself. And what a mighty nice thought Miss O had for Ms LO.
Love the blog and you! Have a great weekend painting!
Wow...that is really something! I have followed your experiment most of the year and it sure has challenged my perspective on so much of this. I do give a nod to O for her awareness and desire to contribute to the project...makes me wonder how closely her staffers are following...interesting. Kudos to you for the return...not sure what I would've done. It was a gift and all...and the direction was "if you could afford it"...but i guess when it's a gift...that doesn't challenge the "if you can afford it" aspect. But then isn't that relative to it's importance to you? If I need $350 medical procedure, I can afford it...hmmmm. Love the thoughts...keep it up!
I hope her next show topic isn't something like "How to accept gifts no matter what the circumstances"
I am not sure you needed to return the gift. She said, "if you can afford one." It was not a commandment. Additionally, you could have bought one for a friend, then the money would have been spent, no financial assistance.
WOW...you could have sent it to "your Gayle"....
LO, You go girl.
My take on this is that if truly was a gift --and to remove any hint of manipulation on OW's part-- the note from her would have said something different.
I'm proud of you for sucking it up and taking the right action. Your response, IMHO, was perfect.
Hey, you might even hear from the author (Jonathan Frazen?) who poo-pooed Oprah's book club, if word beyond this blog gets about you returning, albeit politely, the Kindle.
Seriously, when your year of LO is complete, I hope Oprah invites you to lunch --and I hope you would accept!
LO, I totally understand your dilemna and admire your integrity. Someday you'll have a Kindle if you want one, but in the long run it's meaningless compared to having integrity. And while I'm very skeptical of Oprah (while admiring alot of what she does), I'd like to think it was a genuine good-hearted gesture on her part.
haha--AE, your comments had me rolling-I'm going to have that crazy hysterical mental image in my head all day! haha :)
LO's mom--You are right. A journalist would not be seen as being on the "up and up" if they had accepted the gift, although, WOW I would hate to be in that position.
LO, I still so want to high-five you and run around screaming, "HOW COOL IS THAT!?!?!?! You got a note from Oprah!" and then run around freaking out and then probably would run into something and knock myself out! Then I'd come to again and would high five you for sticking to what you felt was right and doing it and for choosing the harder option.
I don't know...something about getting a really, really super cool gift/ note/ recognition/ kindness from Oprah that would make that so tough to return! haha...LO and LO's mom--I think people in the world need that type of integrity, and I'm glad to see someone exercising it and living it. I just shudder at the thought of being in that position! Whew! I mean, Oprah could send me some bubble gum in the mail, and I'd freak out and jump around and tell everyone that "This is the bubble gum that Oprah sent me out of nowhere!" :) It doesn't make it any easier that it's a really super cool gift like the Kindle though!
I think, oddly enough, if in the same position, Oprah might have done the same thing and would have very politely returned the gift! One thing is for sure--You will always remember what you were doing this year!
Certainly, you could have purchased one for yourself and given the one you received as a gift to another person who would enjoy a Kindle. I agree it was a bit churlish to return the gift.
I guess I wasn't the only one who thought that keeping the gift would be a better option and here's why! Oprah LOVES to give gifts. She glows, gleams and shines when she makes people happy. You take away from that person's thrill to give someone a gift, even in the proportions that Oprah gives. That's what is so great about Oprah and that is why I believe she is to blest in her life. This is a lesson I have learned in my life. I love to give and draw back when someone does something for me. Until I started seeing the joy in the eyes of the giver, did I then start to accept graciously gifts given to me.
On another note - I believe Oprah started out her show in a very positive upbeat manner with Il Divo(I think I got that right?) and the song Amazing Grace was beautiful. Sometimes the comments I read seem like, "It was nice, but" referring to the comment about hearing that song at a funeral. My perception of such comments is, "why try to find something wrong with something good." Enjoy it for what it is along with the positive energy it provides. Heaven knows there is plenty of negative energy in our world to last our whole life.
"Live happily, Love tenderly, Laugh daily! Connie
While watching my tape (yes, LO, I too still use a VCR) this morning of Friday's Oprah, I turned on my computer because after the show, as has become usual on Saturdays, i was going to check in to your blog and read your comments on the past week's shows. When I saw that Oprah's new favorite gadget turned out to be the Kindle and heard her say to get one "if it's in your budget, I JUST KNEW she was going to somehow get one TO YOU, knowing how generous she is and knowing that you live in Chicago.
My feeling is that it was inevitable that by this point in the year, with all of US being aware of you, and you doing various interviews about this experiment, especially the TODAY interview (loved it), O and her staff would certainly be aware of you doing this and that, just by virtue of them being aware of -- and probably closely monitoring -- this, would in some ways affect it. One of the ways being Oprah sending you some of the things she is suggesting we should own, because she is so giving and because it's easy to get stuff to you because you live in proximity to the studio. I know you didn't intend this to be the outcome, that you weren't attempting in any way to get free stuff, but to me, it seems as though it would be inevitable that she would, at this point in the experiment, become more a part of it and even change some of her actions because of it, like throwing in the phrase "if it's in your budget" from now on when advising all of us that WE MUST ALL have some material thing in our world.
So, i guess what i'm getting at is, imo, you should have just kept the darn thing...
Man I just love your blog.
You know I think that Oprah has decided that you are a member of the audience, although you're not actually there, so I think it would have been ok for you to keep the Kindle. Until you say that you like her, sometimes it's hard to tell. She did say buy it if you can really afford it, but she didn't say accept a gift if you can really afford it. That's the purpose of a gift really, something you DON"T buy for yourself. So, you really didn't have to send it back. Unless, like some people are saying, this is just an Oprah Show promotion. Anyway the year's almost over, & I can't wait to hear the outcome. Have a wonderful weekend painting.
OMG!!!! LO, I've been reading the comments and I'm sure you're sick of reading the same thing over and over again so I'll keep it short!!!
I screamed when I read the blog. My boyfriend thought George Clooney was at the front door!!! Anyway, OMG!!!! Lady O herself. Maybe you could take a picture of the note and post it on the blog. So, the note was typed and she signed? or the whole thing was handwritten? I cant believe it!!!
Girl, if you can sit quietly without your conscience and the deepest part of you gnawing at you, then you definitely did the right thing!! Pretty certain O has never had a gift from her rejected!!!
Cant wait for her to invite you on her show!!!
T
p.s. update on whats showing in Australia, Friday's episode was 'What Makes America, America'!! I totally cringed when Oprah insisted on touching the red Dorothy slippers, when its clearly not allowed!!!
Sigh!! Cant wait for new shows!!!
Wow, how cool is it to get a gift from Oprah??? That means she thought enough of you to send it.
Instead of sending it back, I would have donated to someone who loves to read, but could not afford a Kindle.
LO, I checked in again after viewing the Kindle segment, and want to weigh in on issues other than whether or not you kept it... (Although I am hardly surpsied to see so many commnents here!) A few things really caught my attention during this part of her show. First, I found her
"Kid on Christmas Morning" enthusiasm for the Kindle amusing and kind of endearing - and I don't often find Oprah endearing! Like another blogger, I noticed some things during the unveilng/interview that told me she must be reading your blog. First, her oft-repeated exclamation "Buy this if you can afford it". You've often pointed out the conflicting messages on her show - often involving financial responsibility v consumerism. That caught my ear immediately, but the second incident confirmed my suspicion. During the Jeff Bezos interview, her enthusiasm often impeded the interview, and she finally said "I know I'm supposed to be letting you talk..." And I thought, "Holy Poll of the Week Batman, she's READING OUR BLOG!" Not only is she reading it, but apparently she's (dare I say it?) taking it seriously, and maybe using it to grow? If it's true, that my friend is a better gift to you than a Kindle, or any other gadget on her favorite list -- something very positive for you to ponder as you hang the framed letter on your wall. Well done, LO!
In reply to: 10/25/2008 08:25:00 AM.
I don't think this is a political move by Oprah to save face..and to send LO something as a good PR move. If that were the case, then Oprah would have had Palin on her show. Let's not even get started with that. There are people who Oprah refuses to have on her show, if she was concerned about bad PR, should would have them on. Oprah does what she wants, and unfortunately there were times she got sued for contents of her show (e.g. beef). Oprah is coming to the end of her great talk show career, I doubt she is concerned about what a blog thinks of her. Seriously.
I've read a few comments in here about Oprah saying "if you can afford it" and then then her comment about letting Jeff Bezos talk. Yes, Oprah or her people(especially Gayle - lol, I see can see Gayle with a bowl of popcorn reading this blog, then calling Oprah about it) may be looking at this blog, but it doesn't mean that THIS BLOG is causing Oprah to say the things she's saying. First of all, we are in the worst economic crisis we have ever been in for awhile. Oprah has already had families struggling to make ends meet on her show recently. OPrah could have came to her own conclusion that her viewers can no longer afford things they used to. Then in regards to her letting Jeff speak, Oprah has people coming at her all the time in how to be better. Oprah loves to get criticizm so she can grow. Point is, it doesn't mean THIS BLOG was the reason she said it. She probably just caught herself talking so much.
So having said that..it was nice reading through all the comments in here. Yes, I read THEM ALL!!!
This blog is exciting, but let's not get carried away in thinking that certain things OPrah says is because of this blog, when it really isn't.
Good for you for staying true to your project's intentions.
I'm back and forget to mention this earlier: I thought I would copy and paste 2 different points since it appears this blog likes to focus more on the negative than positive. What Oprah did at the beginning of her show was extremely positive deserved praise. I was very disappointed in what I read in the first part of the blog for Friday's show. I was expecting a positive comment about that. Below are 2 comments that were posted that I want to repost:
"On another note - I believe Oprah started out her show in a very positive upbeat manner with Il Divo(I think I got that right?) and the song Amazing Grace was beautiful. Sometimes the comments I read seem like, "It was nice, but" referring to the comment about hearing that song at a funeral. My perception of such comments is, "why try to find something wrong with something good." Enjoy it for what it is along with the positive energy it provides. Heaven knows there is plenty of negative energy in our world to last our whole life.
"Live happily, Love tenderly, Laugh daily! Connie
10/25/2008 04:19:00 PM"
"Sweetie,
Oprah had the guys sing Amazing Grace to remind us of the grace present in our lives. It may be a black thing, but I doubt it,although being black in America has required seeking God's grace often. I believe Oprah was simply offering her viewers what she learned growing up.
10/25/2008 12:13:00 AM"
On a different note, even though I would have donated the Kindle rather than return it, I'm sure Oprah would still appreciate it and will not be offended. Who knows, maybe she will discuss this situation on her next LIVE show (I doubt it, but could you imagine???.:-)
LO, you're a stronger woman than I. If I were you, I believe I would have combed through my taped shows to find an Oprah quote from a past show to support keeping the giftee ... or truly be like her and pretend it's a Tiffany thing on your desk that someone gave you ages ago and you didn't realize they gave it to you in the first place because so many people give you gifts. Either/Or. But that's me. I support your decision.
I immediately jumped to your blog when I saw that Amazon advertised that the Kindle was Oprah's new favorite thing. My advice very Oprah-ish would be to keep the Kindle and give $350 to a charity of your choice, "if you can afford it."
lived in inch---Good point, another option, and a good idea. :)
Girl, I would have totally kept the damn thing!
There are serious problems in our country that you could be dedicating your efforts and time to and yet you spend all this time whining on your blog about integrity. Your project is lame. It is ALL about materialism. Have you gained anything from the spiritual aspects of what Oprah talks about?
NO WAY! You should have kept it......it was a random act of kindness from the Big O.
You did the correct thing by returning the "present".
She did not say you had to buy it. Was she insinuating that you couldn't afford it? I think she was just trying to influence your opinion of her. Money should be better spent in these times when people are suffering. ( although I should take my own advice on that subject more often!) Yes ... I say frame the note if she gave that as advice. But you are certainly free to hang it in the attic or garage. I give you credit for staying true to your original plan.
muhka you must really hate Oprah to write such things. It just goes to show that people can always find a negative way to spin anything if they hate someone enough. I don't think Oprah would bother trying to influence LO's opinion. Oprah didn't care about David Letterman's opinion (ignoring him for a year while he begged to be on her show) and he has a an audience of million. LO, judging by the number of people who vote in her polls, has an audience of hundreds, so I doubt Oprah's too concerned about LO's opinion (which is often positive anyway). That's not to minimize LO's importance, only to point out that Oprah doesn't feel the need to suckup to even the loudest of voices.
I think Oprah probably just heard about the project and that it was cute. Maybe she even heard that LO was praising her recent stroke show and felt it was time to say "thank you" for LO's intelligent and balanced mix of praise and constructive criticism. At the very least Oprah probably thought it would be rude to not acknowledge a viewer who is so interested in the show.
But I do fear it may have been a mistake for LO to return the gift. It may send the message that LO is not interested in being approached by Oprah and I was really hoping LO would be on the show in the future.
LO, I'm so happy for you. What a wonderful exciting moment. You sure are strong! I was going to tell you to keep it (because even Oprah believes in the occasional exception to the rule). I have a friend who studies kindles (she's a PhD student) and we both find them facinating.
I finished Edgar Sawtelle a couple of weeks ago and really liked it. I hope you do too! :)
I work with your dad and if you post the recipe, I'll be happy to make him a chicken pot pie. :)
Re: the gift, if you'd had a ticket to her show, you'd have gotten the thing for free... Would you have kept it?
I'm not a Kindle fan, but that's because I like the kinesthetic and other sensory experiences of reading an actual book -- the sound of turning pages, the way the weight shifts from one sid to the other as I progress through the volume, the smell of the paper and binding. Plus, I spend enough time looking at backlit text at work.
Interesting blog, though!
LO - good for you. I'm sure O wasn't offended and if she was ...well too late now. You need to do what you think is the best for your project.
Hubby traded out our TiVo this weekedn so I lost a weeks worth of shows - YIKES! Glad your blog has kept me in the loop.
i think you should have kept it. If you had been in the actual studio audience that day would you not have accepted it? Same diff.
Good job sticking to your guns and avoiding the appearance of a conflict of interest. :-)
Homemade chicken pot pie is lots of work but DELICIOUS. I've been craving roast chicken lately--maybe I'll have to give in soon!
I haven't read all 98 comments, but I think you did the wrong thing. Have you learned anything about Oprah? She LOVES to give to people. Her gift was thoughtful and generous (and probably cost her 0). By not taking it, I think your year of watching to her ultimately means nothing. You may have heard her, but you have not listened to her or learned from her or about her.
Best. LO. Story. EVER.
LO-
You did the right thing. Be true to yourself. Besides, I'm sure when this is all over, Oprah is going to have you on the show and give you another one! Now that one, you should keep!
You did good. :-)
You did good. :-)
You did good. :-)
LO, I'm a little freaked out by how Oprah's people knew your home address. (I mean, I can guess how they figured it out...)
Still, KUDOS to you for sticking to your guns and maintaining your integrity. A raspberry to all who say fie on you.
I wondered if O was paying attention to you, and now I have my answer. I'll bet a half a paycheck, LO, that O has you on in 2009 + does a whole show devoted to you.
LO!!!!!!! AHHH! I was just able to read this whole update. I wish I could've given you the incentive to donation it to the "jax" fund (hint hint). WOW. Picture me with mouth open. I don't know what else to say!!
Yes, you did the right thing by not keeping the gift for yourself, but you could have donated it (Our Skokie Library would love it and so would some Chicago Public School teachers or something) and then, in your thank you note to Oprah, explain why you couldn't keep it. I hope Oprah decides to donate it to a worthy cause. Of course you can't accept gifts from Oprah during this project.
But surely, home viewers sometimes get gifts too that relate to the Oprah show? If I asked a certain book, or the Kindle for that matter, for my birthday or so, I would've fulfilled that "commandment" as a home viewer while not paying for it myself. Also, if you'd kept it you could've written up a nice review of the gadget for all of us blog readers... :(
Maybe instead you should have kept the gift, which was really an act of kindness. And then gone on to create an act of kindness for someone else that was of equal monetary value. I think that would have been more in keeping with the overall values portrayed by Oprah.
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