About a year ago I picked up Michael Tucker’s charming book, “I Never Forget a Meal: An Indulgent Reminiscence.”  It’s essentially his autobiography, and is filled with delightful, honest and very personal stories (and more than a few delicious recipes).

In the book, Michael tells a somewhat painful story about a director who was giving him a hard time as their play developed.  Evidently Michael had a slightly different line delivery once blocking started than he had given at the table read.  He was complaining to his wife, Jill Eikenberry, over dinner, and wishing the director would allow him to develop the character as he chose.  He was confident there had been no change in his performance over time.

Then his wife answered.  “Well, you do do that.”

I groaned just reading about that moment; I had a lot of sympathy for him.  And yet, he had such an amazing response.  Instead of getting defensive, breezing past her comment, or battling to justify his performance, he had to admit that she was probably right.  Michael goes on to tell how his wife has had similar insights during their 40 years together.  How often he has ended up thinking, “Why didn’t I see that?  Why didn’t I shift just 45 degrees to see a different view?”

This week you may want to take his advice.  You don’t even have to move your feet…just turn your neck a little.  And don’t forget to add Michael’s books to your Fall reading.