Book Signing

My dear friends Anne and John invited me to a lecture by author Anne Lamott. It was a school night so I was a bit worried about my family. After all, it isn’t summer yet and we are just climbing out of our winter routine this would be a real norm breaker. An evening event during the week with grown-ups might not be acceptable. I checked with my family members and each said, “I don’t care”. I am sure that came from a deep need to see me happy and NOT complete apathy for what I wanted to do.

My friends Anne and John are super hip, ultra cool people. Plus they are beautiful both inside and out. Theirs is a true love story and one that I cherish deeply. Seriously, they should write a book about it . . . True. Love. Story.

Anyway, Anne Lamott was wonderful. I have only read one of her books, Blue Shoe, but I really connected to what she had to say. She was funny, touching, and when she spoke I could truly relate. Anne, John and I stood in line for a photo and to have her sign books. What a difficult part of the job that must be. Having strangers who know ALL about you come up to you with compliments and praise. I think that might be the hardest part of a book tour. It is hard to take a compliment.

Lamott ended her lecture by telling all the ‘want-a-be’ writers, painters, actors, etc to just start. Stop waiting for the right time to follow that path. She also shared that no one really cares if you do it or not but if you don’t you will regret it forever. That made me happy that I write this little blog. It made me realize that I enjoy jotting down my thoughts. It pleases me and I am happy I am doing it. It is a good outlet for whatever strands of creativity are flowing about my mind. I also think it will be fun for my grandchildren to read someday – so they can really know about me (and their parents!). Maybe they will not just think of me as old . .but will connect that I had a life. That makes me happy too.

On a final note, when I accepted the offer to go to this lecture I scanned my book shelves for the one book I knew I had read by Lamott. When I pulled it out, I noticed that I had left whatever it was I was using for a bookmark at the time, in the book. I love to use little notes and things my family leaves about for my bookmarks. I also like to leave them in the book when I am finished. It is like a hidden treasure of memories just waiting to be found.

This is yet another reason I will never join the Kindle group. I am all for technology but what would Anne Lamott have signed, my keypad? What memory would I have missed by not finding that bookmark?

Assignment: Anne Lamott says you have to do what people tell you to do. She also says if you are creative then you have to express it. So – get busy!