Talking With Ed

Reader Contribution by Kim Roman
Published on August 12, 2015
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The night before my interview with prolific actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr. at the 2014 MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, I finished reading his book, Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life (Crown Publishing, March 25, 2008). In my hotel room, like an actress preparing for an audition, I ran through my lines, “Mr. Begley, do you think … ?” and “Mr. Begley, is there …?”

Nervous isn’t the word I’m looking for, but I was excited to meet him. After all he’s been in hundreds of movies and TV shows, and I enjoyed watching him and his wife Rachelle Carson banter on “Living With Ed” – originally shown on HGTV then moved to Planet Green. You can read episode recaps and watch clips at the website.

We were to meet at 3 p.m. at the Envirolet booth for which he is the spokesperson. Envirolet by Sancor™ is a line of waterless, low-water and vacuum-flush environmentally responsible composting toilets. They were initially used in cabins, cottages, outbuildings and other out-of-the-way places but are finding their way into mainstream commercial and residential applications.

Earlier that next morning, I walked around the main floor of the Fair when an opportunity presented itself to take a few candid shots of Mr. Begley speaking with fans and talking with them about Envirolet. After a few loops around the show floor, I noticed that he was alone. This was my chance to slip in, geek out for a few moments, and see if he would autograph a book for me. Again I prepared a professional sounding dialog in my head, “Mr. Begley, your book is wonderful. Would you please sign it for me?”

As I approached, he looked at the name on my press pass, came toward me with a smile on his face, warmly shook my hand and said, “Hi, I’m Ed.” He went on, “We’re supposed to get together later, right?” Gone was the formal Mr. Begley and in walked my new friend Ed. He immediately put me at ease – he’s just that warm and inviting.

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