 Nora's
Carolina
Moon Tour 2000
NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY
Tuesday, April 11
Tour
Reports
Vicky
As you may have guessed by now, I'm usually game
for a road trip, so when The Queen wasn't coming
out to L.I. I had to figure out how to get to her.
Looked over all the choices and picked Staten
Island. Had never been there, didn't know anyone,
but it seemed easiest.Because after ditching my
younger kids for the River's End signing last year.
They made it clear they were coming this time.
Now you might wonder why a 8 year old girl
(Laura) and a 13 year old boy (Stephen) would care,
but it's part the road trip adventure, part they
have met Nora before and she was her usual
wonderful self, and part they like her books! The
explanation to that is I often listen to audio
books, but only books I've already read, my usual
being Hidden Riches. A few years back the
trip ended before the book, didn't give it a second
thought. Next night at dinner they're asking me
about what happened to the broken dogs, does the
old lady get out of the hospital etc. I thought
they were busy with game boy, walkman etc, and they
had gotten completely hooked by the story. I told
them the ending, but Stephen wanted to hear it,so
next trip, with some careful F.F, he finished the
book. Great storytelling has no age limit! In my
house we still call that book "broken dogs."
So, we leave after school, kids are doing
homework in the car, and the weather is rainy with
a chance of SNOW. Now in N.Y., it's not about how
far you are driving, it is what insane amount of
time will it take you to go not very far. Best case
would be one hour to bridge. We did it---in an hour
and a half we are at the mall. Exactly the right
time for the miles. Had called the bookstore for
directions and they were perfect. The women was as
excited as I was. In fact everyone at the store was
very nice and excited. Gina had sent a mailing out
advertising the signing and they had miles of area
roped of.
Had a B.K. dinner which I couldn't eat, too
excited, kids are chilling. Now it's 5:30, still
time to kill. Walk the mall (kids in heaven??? I
don't get it--they all look the same.) By 6, I'm
antsy, must get in line. Head back, notice they are
requiring a Walden's receipt for Carolina
Moon to get in line. Moment of panic, but the
lovely Gina let's it slide if you are a preferred
reader and have your card. The humor is I don't
share the fetish of having every book signed, I go
to deliver my mm and Pepsi and buck her up a bit.
And I bring a book so I look like I belong. Now
have 45 minute line wait. Get to listen to talk
around me. One owns every book but the two brothers
that go with the two sisters but she knows that
it's being reissued in June * note I couldn't find
this tid bit anywhere.(Stanislaski bros.) One girl
sort of asks if Honest Illusions is any good
and about 10 of us went crazy raving about it (she
bought).
Meanwhile Laura is hanging around the door
looking for Nora. She comes back and asks me about
if she'll have a long coat or a short coat. So I
said, "Based on her reports she's going to be in
black, probably pants because it's so rotten, a
vest and blazer and a colorful silky shirt." The
women behind me ask me a bunch of questions then.
Laura runs back announcing that Nora Is Here, and I
was right. She is dressed exactly as I said with a
bright blue shirt. I am now treated with awe by the
women surrounding me. Nora is led past us into the
back and there is a rumble because it's a few
moments past 7. I turn to my loyal followers and
say, "You know, I wouldn't be surprised if they
have been sitting in traffic for 2 hours, I think
she deserves at least a potty break." They all
agree.
An announcement is made: Ms. Roberts is only
signing 2 books per person, CM and one more. Steve
wanted to get Witness for himself, and my darling
daughter, I offered her Jewels, but she wanted the
new big book with the nice picture on the back. I
hadn't decided between JotS or the copy of Once
More With Feeling my sister found for me for
Xmas. So didn't get anything signed to myself.
During the wait someone talked manager Gina out
of her Carolina Moon pin. So I said that coming all
the way from L.I. was worth a pin- and she got me
one. She continued to give out all the pins she
could find. Laura got one too. I was priming Laura
to pull a Wym-I wanted her to tell Nora that we
bought then on ebay for $25. But you know how it is
when you get to the table. All normal thought
processes stop. We're about fourth. The kids had
her the books, Laura gives her a little purse that
has the M&M, a 'carrot' filled with Dove
chocolate eggs, and a Rocky and Bullwinkle patch,
and a diet Pepsi. Nora looks up and jumps right in
"I know you. You were in Danville. How's the teddy
bear?" The kids are in heaven. Someone took
Stephen's photo with his book, we took photos, Nora
hugs Laura, Nora asks me to send greetings, we move
on. Duh forgot most everything wanted to say.
Walk the mall, hit McD for flurrys head back
around 8. Signing is almost over, so we hang around
a few minutes. Laura is estatic, Nora is drinking
the Pepsi. Doesn't take much to make my kids happy.
Nora stops as she is leaving, chats a few minutes,
gives me a hug. She did look good--as in happy and
healthy. Last year she looked a little whipped when
I saw her. But, then again she has had some male
companionship these last few days. I'm sure that
helps tremendously.
Leave by 8:30, home by 10, not bad at all. A
wonderful full day.
Linda & Stephen & Laura
ADWOFF > NORA'S
TOURS >
CAROLINA
MOON
TOUR > Linda's
Story
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