Now I Feel Panicked About Other Things

Cathy Guisewite: A 10- or 30-second radio or TV commercial is a very short amount of time to say something, and in commercials you’re writing about something that everybody in the world has heard about a million times, with the goal of finding a different way to approach the subject.

Linda Mvusi: And at the same time you’re making choices.

Guisewite: Exactly. It was very cathartic.

Mvusi: (pause) Some evidence even disappeared.

Guisewite: Now I feel panicked about other things.

•••

Mvusi: But we are called upon to build luxury buildings which are only appropriate for a very tiny minority who may be in opposition to the vast majority’s wishes.

Guisewite: Those things kept happening over and over and over, and they were always just right there as subject matter.

Mvusi: One just went from day to day dealing with the problems, getting things done.

Guisewite: Plus, there’s always a deadline.

Mvusi: The back story. I think it’s crucial.

•••

Guisewite: And that was all pretty much a big mistake [laughter].

Mvusi: I’ve gathered.

Guisewite: I was stunned.

Mvusi: Right. Because it seemed there was no recourse.

Guisewite: For about a year.