I’m living proof that sometimes, in the very weirdest and coolest way, you can connect with someone who just might be famous on Instagram.

And keep up that connection. Surreal and so awesome all at once. That connection for me is with a guy named Nick Offerman.

Unless you are really not into various forms of entertainment like TV shows, books, podcasts, movies, and even live comedy shows, you probably have heard of him.

Nick has a new book out called Little Woodchucks. The live version of his show is this fascinating mash up of part stand-up, part sermon, and all about teaching kids to work with their hands instead of staring at screens. I’m on board.

He’s this combination of kindly-aggressive and warm at the same time, which makes it for a different kind of show than I’ve seen from anyone else.

Anyway, Nick invited me to attend his most recent DC show, and I brought along my friend Matt, also a big fan and a worker of wood.

After the show ended just before nine, we got in the very long autograph line. He rightfully has a lot of fans. Needless to say we did not get to the front of that line until around 10:45pm.

When I finally got there, Nick looked beat tired with eyes like they’d been stung by bees. He asked my name for the book signing.

“Hey Nick, it’s Wade Forbes.”

You could see the recognition land.

“What the hell are you doing at the end of the line? Where were you?”

I told him the backstage passes weren’t at will call. Our envelope had the tickets but no passes, so we got in line to see him - no big deal. He started apologizing profusely.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I’m such a (colorful adjective). I can’t believe they weren’t there.”

I said, “Man, you’ve done enough. This is the third show you’ve given me tickets to!”

This guy had just performed for nearly two hours, then signed books and talked to fans for 1hr and 45 minutes, and was clearly wiped out. Now he was there apologizing to me, almost 11 at night, about a backstage pass that got lost in the shuffle. Talk about a surreal moment.

As he signed our books, I presented him with a gift - which happened to be a Post-it with a B.B. King quote on it.

His whole show had been about exactly that. The dignity of learning something with your hands, and the worry that we are growing up with our hands on screens instead of on tools.

Without really planning it, the B.B. King quote I gifted him landed inside the same theme that Nick seems to want to get across. It had come from my round of daily post-it note quotes back in November 2025 (great minds?).

That happens more than you would think. Send a lot of post-its and the right one finds the right person on the right day. It is awesome.

Nick held the Post-it and gave me a nice compliment (just for me). Those always feel good.

A Brief History on How This All Came About

I found Nick through his books, which I think is why the exchange between us has stayed relatively even. Megan got me his book. And while I was reading his book, I was tagging him on Instagram to see the pictures I’d drawn. And then through some messages back and forth, all of a sudden we strike up a friendship.

Over the years, I’ve sent him quotes and a stack of my seasonal journals. He’s sent a signed book, some of this famous scotch, tshirts from his wood shop, and tickets to his shows. Neither of us has ever asked the other one for anything. We both love Megans too.

What do you give to somebody who has everything?

Me, I give those people these little post-its.

A handwritten quote on a sticky note, without a pitch. Same thing going out to everyone else that day.

Nick “Don’t Call Me Ron Swanson” Offerman just happened to be the one sitting there at 10:45 PM.

What do you make with your hands? (future newsletter coming up about this)

What do you give away to others who already have everything?

Grateful you are here,

Wade