Come prepared if you decide to speak in public

My wife surprised me the weekend of Nov. 4 and took me to downtown Asheville for our wedding anniversary. We supported all the local restaurants and establishments for the weekend. One of my surprises was going to the Anthony Bourdain event at the Civic Center on Nov. 5.

I was excited to see someone who I enjoy watching on TV. I love cooking and the experience that goes with it. My only disappointment was the way Asheville represented itself at the end of the show. Anthony ended with questions from the audience. There were some obviously “liquid influenced” people who decided to make it their own personal evening with Anthony. They did not allow other people to ask good and meaningful questions.

To tell those waiting their turn to back off because “I have the mic” and “this in my only chance to talk with him” is immature. One speaker went as far as to tell him she “loved him” not once but twice, in a stalker-type mentality. All of this ended with Anthony using the f-bomb and closing the show for the evening.

Come on, Asheville. We are better than that. Come prepared if you decide to speak in public.

— Mike Lewis
Mills River

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