If only I'd known

Just as doctors make bad patients, I'm pretty sure journalists can't be the easiest people to interview. And we're certainly the worst afterward when it comes to second-guessing how goofy we came across.
That's what I've been doing ever since a first-year J major from Bona's called this afternoon after e-mailing last week to set a date and time.
Usually, something like an interview would make me nervous. But since I'd forgotten all about it until she emailed yesterday to confirm -- and it slipped my mine again today until 30 seconds or so into the conversation.
"Hi, it's Mary," I heard.
"Hi," I said enthusiastically.
"I just want to thank you for agreeing to help me with this," Mary said.
Um ... help with what? I wondered.
But instead, I said "I'm sorry, which Mary is this?"
"It's Maddie," the girl formerly known as Mary said.
Oh, whew. My brain suddenly re-engaged.
She began asking questions; I began wishing I'd studied up on interesting things about college. But, I hadn't wanted to over-think things. I figured that anything important would come to me when I heard the questions.
Not so much.
So, just to make sure she wasn't bored, I mentioned having been in the same class as Fox newsman Neil Cavuto and NYTimes reporter Dan Barry. Later, when I found out what this interview was all about, I threw ABC's Victoria Corderi in. She was in my public speaking class, which I assured Maddie was one rolicking-good class.
Pretty lame, huh?
When she was finished -- and no doubt eager to get back to her less-lame life -- I asked "What will you be doing with the information?"
The tapes from the various students' interviews were being put together for her "College 101" class, which was doing its own StoryCorps project, inspired by "Listening is an Act of Love."
While we talked a few seconds about how much we love that book, a portion of my brain wandered off on its own, comparing "my" story with the ones I've been reading.
BO-ring. Hence, the Vicky Corderi name dropping.
"Have you heard of her?" I asked.
"No."
That does it. Next shot I get at immortality, I'm studying ahead.