Photo by Jonel/Wiki
I adore this quite short, second essay of Sedaris’ in his book, When You are Engulfed in Flames. “Keeping Up” is largely about the troubles we have when in a foreign country, on vacation usually, but mainly about Hugh. Hugh is Sedaris’ partner whom I enjoy hearing about probably more than Sedaris himself. Of course, I have to give Sedaris the credit about making Hugh into such an adorable character in his studies…but really, I just can’t help but liking the guy.
In this essay, Sedaris is complaining that Hugh has such long legs that Sedaris spends have the vacation just ‘keeping up,’ hence the title. Lots of laughs about playing Where’s Waldo and trying to remember what Hugh was wearing that day. He saves the best chuckles for last as he ponders what a dingo is. Really? Is this a New York thing? You didn’t know a dingo was basically a wild dog?
Of course, Sedaris bumbles along hopelessly lost and calm, cool, long-legged Hugh shows up in a nick of time to admire the un-fascinating dingos with Sedaris at the Australian Zoo. Now that I know Sedaris’ modus operandi, I’m really enjoying this book better than Me Talk Pretty One Day. That, and there are no stupid parrots in this one (yet).
My name is Britty and I'm chief bottle-washer at this site. I'm a book-lover, student and freelance writer when I'm not being a mom of three and wife of one.
