Carole is known to say things without thinking them completely through, often with intriguing and humorous results. I don’t remember when this one happened—it’s been a few weeks ago—but I was talking about how I’m a mimic when it comes to writing. I can’t write real people unless I know them well enough to be able to mimic them. Carole thought about this and said, “I’m a mimic, too, I just can’t do the voices.” Huh, I thought. That has to be the easiest night club act ever: an impressionist who doesn’t actually do the voices, just hears them in her head.

“Okay, here’s an easy one. . . . Ehhh? Pretty good, huh? Here’s a tough one. See if you can spot this one. . . . Oh, come on, I’m not that old, am I? Gary Cooper? Okay, somebody current. Anybody. Give me any name. I can do it.”

And talk about building a repertoire. Listen to a recording once. . . . She’d be a kind of savant. Forget the Grand Caravan: We need a tour bus, and soon.