From Nora -- added on
Saturday, March 24, 2001 @ 8 P.M.
Wow, I made it.
Met Henry--who is very prompt--and headed off to
the stock signing at Sam's. Almost always, Sam's
does a terrific job with these things, and this was
no exception. Welcoming and prepared. They asked me
if it was okay if they put me on the floor and
announced that I was there. Hey, why not? So I
signed mountains of stock, and ended up signing a
hefty amount of books for customers who were
surprised and delighted to find me there. One
woman's on her cell phone with her sister,
stumbling over her tongue as she tells her I'm
there. But I'm leaving shortly, and to meet up with
me at the next Sam's on the list.
They had a terrific book department there, and
the woman in charge of it READS.
Henry drives me on. He had computer directions,
but the store people had told me to head up 77
North, then take 18 East. We'd run right into the
Sam's where my formal signing was set. Well, they
were right, except they neglected to mention that
18 East isn't actually marked. LOL. So we got
slightly lost, but Henry's sense of direction is
pretty damn good. Only ten minutes late, and I
called ahead to let them know.
Really big crowd waiting for me. Sweet people.
Some charming nervous. This always baffles me. I am
not a scary individual. Several had driven in from
Michigan. Not related people, either. All I could
think was it was too bad they hadn't known each
other and car pooled.
Sam's gave me several of my new favorite gel
pen. I love them--Sam's and the pen.
On my schedule is now a visit--just a quick
stock signing at a little audio book store across
the highway. Staright stock deal, no set time, just
drop in, say hello, sign stock and hightail it.
Only when I get there, there are huge, honking
posters of me announcing a signing from 2:30 to
3:00. It's now only 2:00. God. So I go inside. More
posters. This is a little place and I loom large in
it. A couple of people are there, I sign audios and
hardbacks for them. Then talk to the manager. Do
you want me to sign stock now.
No, thanks.
We chat. I'm sitting there, as she's set up a
table--with flowers--at the front of the store.
What to do, what to do. I'm not supposed to have to
sit here like this. Another customer wanders in. I
chat and sign. Want me to sign stock, I ask again.
Nope.
I gently explain what my schedule says. She is
sweet and just tells me she's excited I'm there,
and that she hopes some of her customers will be in
shortly as time on the postcards she sent out
listed 2:30.
POSTCARDS??? Oh, man. I sit. Another customer
straggles in. I sign old audio books and a
hardcover. Sit and chat, sit and nearly doze off.
Sit, sit. I mention the stock again, and actually
get out the hard copy of my schedule to show her
how this stop is listed. No set time, stock
signing. Just a visit. She finally says maybe I can
sign four audios of The Villa. I've already
figured out this is primarily an audio book rental
outlet.
WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
Stick it out until 2:45, but just can't handle
any more. Politely take my leave.
Off to Cleveland with Henry. We get here, no
problem, but the street we should turn on to get
the hotel is blocked off and torn up. Have to
circle around. Ask city workers who are tearing up
the streets. Circle, and Henry comes through!!
Drag everything into the hotel, snag an apple--I
was never so thrilled to see fruit--off the front
desk. Get into my room. Drag out what needs to be
dry cleaned. Eat a cookie. Thank you, Nancy! Put
myself into some order. Call home.
Just ordered dinner. It's early, but I'm
starving. Plan to eat myself into a coma in front
of an in-room movie.
I made it through Week One!!
Oh, it's COLD and WINDY and snowing flurries in
Cleveland. I have I feeling I'm sticking in my room
tomorrow to sleep, eat, write and drink.
Nora
Nora's The Villa Tour
2001 