I thought the book signing was Sunday. Oh ______ So being the Gemini Twin, I morphed into panic mode. When I called the bookstore in Madison, they wouldn't hold a copy of the book even when I said I would pay for it with a credit card.(Customer Service, 21st Century Style) My GPS didn't work and sent me in circles. I thought, "Was there a magnetic phenomenon that screwed up the satellite belt above Earth?" I hadn't eaten anything so I would save time, I was queasy and vertigo had set in. I darted in and out of the Saturday Mother's Day shopping traffic. Do drivers know that when they slam on their breaks, it triggers their break lights to come on? Seriously, stop..go..stop..slow..stop..stop.. Tires squealed and screeched. I was stupid to not even consider radar, police,a speed trap. I liked to drive like a Dewey Decimal Demon. Besides, I had visions of the salesperson saying, "Sorry, we just sold the last copy." Aghhhhh!! I must be the queen of anxiety. Fret, sweat, and fret some more.
I finally made it to Madison. Happily, there was a special book at the register for me. They had not run out...yet. There was one for me and I wouldn't leave empty handed.
Feeling like Willie Wonka, I went out to wait in the long line of "lucky purple ticket holders." I started to read. My mind blocked out the cacophony of downtown distractions. A loud party of four disturbed my thoughts. I looked up and noticed they had little interest in the book. Their books remained closed. While I stood there, I looked up and down the line and opened my ears to the conversations around me. I sensed many (certainly not all,and not the majority)people were not there to get the book to READ but to see Barbara Walters. Yes, they grinned as they left the store with their book, her signature and a dust collector show to their friends.
Can you my friends even imagine that your book would stay closed for a second? Can you imagine not even one peak at that book if it were you who stood on the sidewalk? You waited for the author's signature,who you would soon meet, but dared not read a word of her book?
From her candid expressive writing I enjoyed what I read. I inched closer to the front door. I was surprised I was able to concentrate in that long noisy line on the Boston Post. I inched a little closer, a salesperson came around to make sure our purple tickets were ready, and our books were "flapped" to the title page. She mentioned as an afterthought Ms. Walters would only sign her name no personalization. I preferred that anyway. I continued to read, bothered by the intrusion.I got my book, but did not get my photo with Barbara Walters. Why? The batteries had failed! Another Madison mishap. Miss Tekey also forgot her camera phone in the car.
No picture and it was my turn to meet her. She shook my hand and we talked. I could easily see what made her so successful as an interviewer. Her focus was only on me for those few minutes we talked. I had read the prologue while I stood in line. I thought to myself how fabulous she looked, and how approachable she was. We talked about the prologue and her sister. She impressed me, she was real, charming, tireless and a beautiful person who kept a smile on for everyone.
Hey, I got my book after a bit of a battle. My mom is still looking out for me. Thanks MOM and Happy Mother's Day. I still miss you and will love you always.
5 comments:
I loved your post!! Thank you for sharing your adventure with us out here in the bloggesphere. My copy of AUDITION is in the mail and on it's way to me here in Okinawa. I have been watching anything I can find with Barbara Walters interviews on it. What a fantastic opportunity to beable to share a few moments with such an influential and impressive woman.
-K
It was actually more than I expected.
As you can see I am still awake...my time is 2:46AM. I can't get a color to change and it's bugging me. LOL
Thanks for visiting planetbooks.
Wisteria
Just wanted to let you know your package has arrived. YEAH!!! I took pictures and will be posted them to my blog.
Thank you - thank you - THANK YOU!!! :)
Barbara Walter's life was influenced greatly by her older sister and she's written a beautiful memoir about her life. I read another memoir of a life influence by a sibling that I recommend highly - I actually liked it even more. The memoir is ""My Stroke of Insight"" by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. Dr Taylor became a Harvard brain scientist to find the cause and cure for schizophrenia because her older brother was a sufferer. Then, crazy as life can be, Dr. Taylor had a stroke at age 37. What was amazing was that her left brain was shut down by the stroke - where language and thinking occur - but her right brain was fully functioning. She experienced bliss and nirvana and the way she writes about it (or talks about it in her now famous TED talk) is incredible.
What I took away from Dr. Taylor's book above all, and why I recommend it so highly, is that you don't have to have a stroke or take drugs to find the deep inner peace that she talks about. Her book explains how. ""I want what she's having"", and thanks to this wonderful book, I can!
Anonymous, thank you for your wise comments.
I will read the book you recommend. I had a stroke at 50 and it left me blind. Fortunately, I have made a near total recovery of my sight. This is a miracle by a higher power according to my doctors. This certainly puts life into perspective. I am glad you have read and think so highly of Dr. Taylor's book, "My Stroke of Insight." Yes, I was a bit older than her, but still considered young for a stroke. Especially, when the nurses and doctors kept looking at my wrist band thinking they had the wrong patient.
I'm striving for the same bliss, the same inner peace. You know, I really have to say, I don't run like I used to. I do stop to smell my Wisteria, listen to my wind chimes, cancelled cable, and play with my dogs. It just is that easy. Thanks for writing.
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