Most of us have had the privilege of meeting Webster.  I remember growing up, my teacher would often tell me, “I should have met Webster sooner,” or “if you would’ve met with Webster you would have received a better grade on this paper.”

theipp[dot] finally sat down with Webster to figure out how he became the man:

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IPP:  How are you doing these days?

Webster:  I’ve been younger, but I’m doing well.

IPP:  How did you become such a rock star in the literature community?

W:  [laughing] that’s funny.  I was sitting the library one Tuesday and the librarian came up to me…

IPP:  Woah there Webster, this is a family program.

W:  It’s nothing what you think.  I was playing dice in the corner, and I was cleaning house against the library nerds.  They never knew how to gamble.

IPP:  You were gambling?

W:  Oh yeah, I love throwing dice.

IPP:  I’m confused.

W:  The librarian busted me for the millionth time.  She sent me to the chalkboard and told me to start writing words.  When I filled up every room in the building I started writing in a notebook.  See, I was a troublemaker and did a lot of writing.

IPP:  I thought you were a genius?

W:  Depending on who you are, I am.

IPP:  What?

W:  By the time I finished high school and college, I had couple dozen notebooks.  One professor was impressed with my collection of words.  He thought if I organized the words in order I might be able to sell the collection.  BOOM!  The first dictionary was born.

IPP:  uh…
W:  Every couple of years I had some new words: like “boo-yeah” or “bootylisous” so I can release another edition.

IPP:  I really don’t know what to say.

W:  Now I’ve got the dot com and it has a thesaurus and everything.  I’m rich!

IPP:  I think we’ve all learned a valuable lesson today.  Every great idea starts with throwing some dice.

W:  Yahtzee!