Yesterday’s Fun

I had gotten the local author to appear at the local independent bookstore by sheer determination – mine, in working with the crusty bookstore owner.  I agonized over it, baked oatmeal raisin cookies and pumpkin muffins, made up and distributed flyers to my book clubs, writing groups and yoga classes – and other unsuspecting random friends and acquaintances.  I could have spared myself the worry.  Eight interested readers/writers (ok, only seven interested writers – my husband John is solely an interested reader) attended Steven Wingate’s appearance at Clear Creek Books yesterday.  He talked about the fiction writing process, read a little from his compilation of short stories called Wife Shopping and conducted a mini-writing workshop.  It was great fun and as folks got their books signed, they told him so.  We took photos – of course we did – and I think the bookstore owner enjoyed the whole process.  So I can stop wringing my hands over this one – and start wringing my hands over the next Meet The Author on November 7th.

Meeting Michael Chabon

Yesterday at 3pm, I arrived at the Tattered Cover, the local independent bookstore, in LoDo (Lower Downtown) Denver.  At 6:30pm, numbers were handed out and I was #4.  At 7:30pm, George walked into the event room followed by Michael Chabon followed by happy applause.  George introduced the Pulitzer Prize winner as “Michael SHAY-bon.”  I was glad to know this as I had always pronounced the last name as “shah-BON.”  The touseled haired Chabon took to the podium and read two excerpts from his newest book “Manhood for Amateurs,” and took on Legos and a blind date on which he met his wife.  He talked about his sons and his daughters and his hopes for them and he answered questions, some intriguing like “Do you love words, find one and look up the definition and use it?” and some insipid like “Your mother was a single parent.  What advice do you have for single parents?”  Hey, he’s not Dr. Phil (thank god) so keep asking those questions about language and writing.  Because I held #4 I was near the beginning of the chaotic line for a book signing.  When he got to me he shook my hand and looked right at me (I’m sure he did that for everyone and I’m sure everyone appreciated it as much as I did).  I introduced myself and showed him the note he’d written me.  He said, “That wasn’t long ago, was it?, because I remember it.”  I said, “It was about a month ago.  I just wanted to thank you because it was such an unexpected treat.”  He slid the now signed book toward me and looked me right in the eyes and said, “Good. I’m glad.”  He held the gaze for a full several seconds…several seconds of connection, of sheer delight, of sheer magical delight.

More Magic

Once when my son was little, he called the preschool where I worked and asked to speak to me.  The hard nosed director said, “Is this an emergency?”  There was a pause and then he responded, “It may not be to you.”  Well, what I’m about to relate may not be magic to you but it certainly falls within my perimeter for believing and for offering gratitude.  The writing instructor who graciously worked with me this summer just returned a review of one of my short stories.  She made some very insightful suggetions and asked some important questions and I believe this story will turn out to be a very good, readable one.  I am counting on it.  Then yesterday, my book review of Bolano’s 2666 appeared in the local rag – every writer needs some credibility – at least until she is published!  Today’s surprise is that while shopping with my friend Holly I found a Russel Wright teapot – in chartreuse, no less! – in perfect condition at a bargain price!  I almost felt guilty buying it but as Holly pointed out, I did not price the treasure, the shop owner did.  When we returned to her house, Holly picked two beautiful red apples from the tree in her front yard and John and I had one for tea.  Ok, that last part may not be a miracle to you but having friends with whom to share fun and joy is a distinct blessing and certainly adds to the aura and fulfillment of life for me….and how else would you define magic?

Beginning of Magic

As most of you know, this is a Magical Year for me. It officially began about 8pm on August 14th and it will last a minimum of 12 months. During this wonderful time, a number of thrilling but seemingly unrelated events will grace my life. The first one has already occured.
On Sunday afternoon, my husband and brother-in-law/wife from England and I were returning from a trip north to see the changing aspen leaves. We stopped at a local chain grocery store to pick up a few items for dinner. When we got home and I took off my fleece, I realized that my favorite turquoise bracelet was no longer on my left arm. Now this was no Madoff-scale disaster but I’d bought the bracelet about 15 years ago on a shopping trip with my brother and it had more sentimental than financial meaning for me. Yesterday (Monday), I drove back to the grocery store and walked around the spot where Suzie Subaru had been parked. I walked to the recycle bin inside the store where I had deposited (yuk) plastic bags. No luck. I stepped up to the customer service desk and described the jewelry piece to the nice man behind the counter. “Let me check lost & found,” he said and disappeared behind a door marked Private. In just a few seconds, he opened the door and held up a bracelet, “Is this it?” “AH!” his question was answered – and I was thrilled to have the piece in my hands once again.
Well, today brought another small magical experience. It seems that less than 30 days ago, I wrote a fan letter to an author. I’ve never written any kind of  fan letter before but I had to tell the author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay how meaningful his book was to me. I weighed it carefully – after all, a four page fan letter could easily come under the heading “Stalking.” But his address was posted on whitepages.com and 8/26 is my lucky number so a 44cent stamp was affixed and off went the missive.
Today, the mailman delivered to me a handwritten note from prize winning author Michael Chabon. Another magic moment.
Want to about more about the year of magic? Watch this space. The year has barely begun.

Population Increase

The world population increased by one on Friday, August 14, 2009.  Lila Jane Snyders was born at Lutheran Hospital in Denver.  She weighed 8lbs and is the daughter of Mary & Scott and my first (biological) grandchild!  As if all this were not enough cause for elation and celebration, she is lovely. She has lots of jet black hair and tiny fingers and toes.  Lila is at home with her parents and occasionally they shoo Grammy away so they can hold her.  There is a great deal to be thankful for.

Black Swan Green

If you haven’t yet read, get thee to the nearest library today.  It’s a wonderful story told by a British lad with a great accent.  And because I am imminently qualified to translate for you (I’m married to a Brit), ‘trainers’ are tennis shoes.  That the lad writes poetry while trying to survive the UK equivalent of middle school, makes him much to be admired in my eyes.  There’s a line…”Once a poem’s left home, it doesn’t care about you.”  I think I need to cross stitch it for my son, the poet.

Mush for Brains

I did a little reading this morning – finished Madonnas of Leningrad – truthfully, I was just as impressed with the author’s notes as I was with the story – both worth reading.  And I did some revising and spent some time thinking about the Writer’s Digest short story contest.  First prize is $3,000 so I figure it merits a little thinking about.  But the truth is that my mind is just mush these days.  I guess it’s waiting for Baby Dumpling and not knowing when and who he/she will be.  I can’t really focus much.  I thought I would use this time of No Volunteering to really be creative, to think and write great works.  Instead, I just sort of mull about.  This morning, I got everything done around the house, met my homemaking goals, by 10:30.  Even made soup!  I believe that impending grandmotherhood requires that brains turn to mush.  Let’s hope that actual grandmotherhood demands that brains function as they are meant to!

Horoscope Update

I read my horoscope in the Denver Post regularly – well, not every day but regularly enough.  Today my astrological sign (Taurus) tells me to “visualize more of what you want.  You see a great opportunity.”  Well, it’s true.  Since May, I’ve spent some time of every day working on my writing.  I’ve taken classes and worked with a private instructor.  I’ve gotten advice from Robert Boswell (The Half Known World), Stephen King (On Writing) and Nancy Kress (Character, Emotions and Viewpoint) as well as a group of local writers I meet with once a month.  I belong to three bookclubs and read almost every spare minute; my daughter often views our house and says, “Look at all these books!”  But most of all, I am committed to being a good writer.  I want people to read my short stories – and want to read more of them.  I’m visualizing that.  And I’m working toward that great opportunity every day.

Traditions To Go

By now, unless you’ve been living on Alderol, you’ve seen the Youtube video of the wedding couple dancing their way down the aisle. Bridesmaids and groomsmen wore dark glasses and boogied all the way to the alter. The minister was in on the fun but I’m guessing mom and dad were..eh…surprised. Personally, I think it’s great. Here in Colorado, anyone can officiate at a wedding. Last summer, I went to a backyard wedding where we all wore Hawaiian prints and were given a lei when we walked in. The groom’s best friend performed the ceremony and when the time came for the exchange of rings, the bride and groom each walked over to his/her dog and untied the bow, freeing up the wedding band. Another couple we know bicycled to the top of a mountain where she whipped a white veil out of her backpack and they exchanged their vows. They rode back down the mountain a married couple. I’ve often wondered why brides don’t revolt against white dresses. What could be more 20 minutes ago than virginal white and a veil to hide your face from the man/partner you’ve been living with until you say “I do?” A wedding is a social and cultural commitment and often means “I want to create a separate unit of humans with you.” The church blesses these unions but that is a choice. Whether or not you choose that blessing, you will probably stand exactly the same chance of being happy with your mate. You will certainly get the IRS tax deduction, be entitled to certain benefits and have the joy of telling everyone “This is the person I’ve chosen and he/she has chosen me,too.” To all of you who have done that or one day will do that, blessings.

Torado Path

We weren’t in the path of the tornado. About 10pm on Monday, we had strong winds and a rainstorm and the lights blinked off and then on and then they stayed off. I went to bed. Turns out, a tornado set down about two miles from us and upended huge trees, did hail damage to cars and blew out every single glass window in Our Lady of Fatima school on Miller Street. Yesterday evening, we went to Mary & Scott’s where I made homemade pesto in the food processor and cooked spaghettini and made salad. Then we each took a shower. I’m sure those poor Excel Energy workers were at it all night and the power came on about 8am. We were without it 34 hours – and lucky that was all that happened.