Laughing has always been my favorite activity and I remember Lily Tomlin ALWAYS making me laugh! She appeared on Sesame Street, an early favorite alongside The Electric Company, in an oversized rocking chair as Edith Ann — pulling funny faces, blowing raspberries and spouting off little pearls of wisdom. Edith Ann was so cool. Lily’s myriad characters were always masterfully crafted and full of energy.
As I got older I became more aware that physical comedy was good for a belly laugh, but if you wanted to keep them entertained, you had to use your brain. On a family vacation to Washington DC, I brought my 11-year-old ideas, my knowledge of the world and my growing social consciousness to the Kennedy Center to see Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. Life has never been the same since. In one night, my 11-year-old self grew up, made connections and saw everything through newly aware eyes. Six years later, I met Lily at the 92nd Street Y in New York City and told her how much I admired her and that her intelligent humor and wry wit gave me inspiration to tap into my own inner funny person. She kindly accepted her compliment and thanked me for it.
-Ashley E. Remer
For more information, visit Lily Tomlin’s website.
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