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I was barreling down Route 39 out of Rockford, Illinois when I heard a woman being questioned on the radio.
It was one of those "man on the street" interviews and she was asked what she thought of Oprah Winfrey.
After a string of plaudits and what can only be called adoration, the woman summed up her thoughts in one sentence: "Oprah is love," she said.
Now, I'm familiar enough with the Bible to know that there is a verse that says, "God is love." There was no missing her inference.
Oprah is in the middle of an eight city tour presenting her "Life You Want Weekend." In fairness, this was not a random woman being interviewed, it was an attendee.
Be that as it may...
A writer for the New York Times took in one of these Oprah weekends and published an article about her experience last week. Her conclusions were a mixed bag, but one thing caught my eye.
At one point some women near her were chanting while Oprah was on stage. No really...chanting.
I remember ten years ago when Oprah's famous car give-a-way hit the airwaves. She stood up in front of her show audience and trumpeted, "And you get a car! And you get a car! And you get a car!"
And a couple of hundred women tossed away their dignity, screaming and squealing at the deiform on stage. I remember the queasy feeling I got watching it.
Show after show she'd give stuff away and show after show women, and the occasional man, would lose their minds. I felt so embarrassed for them. Their intensity seemed strange and misplaced, not to mention a little frightening.
Worse, I was uncomfortable that Oprah seemed so comfortable with it.
I don't know Oprah Winfrey. She might be a very nice person. Maybe she's the most compassionate and generous person you'd ever want to meet. Maybe she's Mother Theresa with a microphone.
Still, like all human beings, if you give her a close up you'll discover flaws. There will be scars and zits and pudge.
I'm just saying.
A few weeks ago I saw her conduct an interview on TV of some celebrity. I wish I could remember who it was, but I don't.
He had gone through some tough times and made the comment that he thinks most celebrities aren't really happy.
Oprah felt the need to chime in right there making it clear that she was one of the few happy celebrities.
And, of course, the interviewee had to cow-tow, "Well, of course, you're an exception," he said.
Ah the insecurity. He didn't point out her exceptionalism, so she had to point it out. When insecure people don't hear others singing their praises, they must sing them themselves.
Do you see the zit?
The delusion we sell ourselves on when it comes to certain people is astonishing. And where there is delusion, disillusionment is sure to follow.
And disillusionment is a crash that few walk away from unscathed.
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