WHAT IF? WHAT IF? WHAT IF?

Kansas City, Missouri:

This is with malice to no one!

I really admire Susan and Katie - the two women who have been literally baby-sitting us from the day fellowships for 2009 were announced (they're there, you know).

My admiration though comes not just for their deft managerial skills, but for loads of patience they have to answer, and answer, a volley of questions from us - the fellows, who don't think twice before posing questions.

What if I have a mobile and it rings in front of people and I have to take it and I am in the midst of a discussion and if I've to answer the call, will it be rude?

Oh!

Some times - rather most of the times, many of those questions do not even suffice academic interests, if you'll. But they get asked.

Because the mind needs to ask them to keep going. It knows the answers for most of those trivial things that you've been doing every day. But you ask, lest the silence shall eat and then you won't feel there was any work done. So questions get asked.

John, the Schneller, told us last week ask the Whats, Ifs, Wheres, Whys of journalism. That will take you to the story.

Perhaps the fellas have taken his advice rather seriously. And so, Susan and Katie have to face the volleys. And, I swear, they do it with amazing humility, with smile always on their faces. I've not seen them getting tired of silly questions so far.

Top on my agenda therefore is to learn from Susan and Katie - observe really - how they cope with those questions while still being joyful!

For the class of 2010, here's what may help: Ask questions if they are needed to be asked; if they yield information other than what's provided in papers and documents that the two women so meticulously mail you before you come here, or hand over to you when you're here. Read the things carefully: more often than not, documents may have answers for your whats, ifs, wheres etc. etc.

Hey, have I rubbed someone the wrong way? Is it okay to blog this? May be I'll ask Susan and Katie about this, and they surely would have an answer.

See, the mind keeps those questions going.