One of those states in the middle that starts with “I”, Alex

The plan was to wake up at 6am, eat, get picked up at 7:45 and driven to the Westchester County airport. I woke up at 6, no trouble. But a second call came at 6:03. The call every traveler dreads – my flight had been canceled. Gulp. Luckily, my trip was arranged through Seagate Travel and they are terrific. They waved a magic wand and suddenly I had to pack my bags and get to LaGuardia Airport ASAP. The ride there was a little exciting, sort of like a theme park ride, but I got there in one piece. The security line was filled with people who have been sleeping for the last three years and had no clue about putting their stuff through the little machines (grr).

I was fairly stressed by the time I got to my gate. So I decided to perform a Japanese Tea Ceremony ala moi. I call it The Airport Tea ceremony.

Image hosted by TinyPic.comFirst, you buy tea. To do this, get in a line of snarling, vicious people, the ones who argued with the security guards about taking off their shoes before going through the metal detector. The ones with the holes in their socks. Observe how the vicious ones belittle and demean the young woman who is earning minimum wage serving jerks coffee and doughnuts. Contemplate how those jerks are accumulating massive bad karma points. Smile at them when they walk by you. (It confuses them.) Smile at the girl when it is your turn to order. Talk to her, ask her how her day is going. Take your time, life is too fast and we need to savor these encounters. If you’re lucky, she’ll offer you some honey from the staff’s secret stash. Honey is good. Life is good. Smile at her a lot more and wish her luck.

Add milk to your tea. Stand there for a minute and watch the colors swirl.

Walk back to your gate. There are no seats. There are never any seats. That’s why you wear jeans to the airport. Sit on the floor. Don’t worry about any critters or germs that live on the floor. We are all living beings. (See how easy this stuff is with the right attitude?) Plug in your iPod or music of choice. Smile. Breathe. Lean against the wall and be very grateful you got that 6:03 call. Take the lid off your tea and take out the bag. Sip the tea. Taste the honey. Life is good.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com(This is Doris and me.) Blissful and relaxed I flew to Chicago where I was met by my author schlepper, Bill Young, who is the biggest and bestest author schlepper in the Mid-West. We drove Naperville where I signed many hundreds of books for their stock, with the help of the Doris the Cheerful. After Naperville, we drove to South Bend, Indiana, where the bookstore of the night was actually on the Notre Dame campus (it’s gorgeous, Mer!).

Image hosted by TinyPic.comYes, this is really the bookstore. They know how to do it up right at Notre Dame.

Image hosted by TinyPic.comI didn’t think many people would come (I remember my own college days very clearly) so I was pleasantly surprised when all these folks turned out. There were kids from first grade through college in the audience so the range of questions was amusing.

Friday I get to sleep in *cheering from peanut gallery* then Bill and I are going to drive to Indianapolis. I have one event there.

7:00 – 9:00 PM Borders, 8675 River Crossing Blvd., Indianapolis, IN , Store Phone: 317-574-1775

If you live in Central NY, please come to River’s End Books in Oswego at 2pm on Saturday – Wear your prom duds!! Drag out that hideous bridesmaid’s dress from the back of the closet!! We want everyone to come and party with us!

33 Replies to “One of those states in the middle that starts with “I”, Alex”

  1. 😀

    hey! my names abby! i was at the book signing at Notre Dame! I hope you remember me! 😉 i was the second girl you signed a book for! i just wanted to say you were MAGNIFICENT! i couldn’t stop talking about it all night……. plus i was up until 2 last night reading Speak! thank you for being so generous! also, i was the girl whose mom’s cell phone went off during the presentation…… she says sorry! 😀
    ~Your biggest fan! 🙂
    – Abby

  2. 😀

    hey! my names abby! i was at the book signing at Notre Dame! I hope you remember me! 😉 i was the second girl you signed a book for! i just wanted to say you were MAGNIFICENT! i couldn’t stop talking about it all night……. plus i was up until 2 last night reading Speak! thank you for being so generous! also, i was the girl whose mom’s cell phone went off during the presentation…… she says sorry! 😀
    ~Your biggest fan! 🙂
    – Abby

  3. 😀

    hey! my names abby! i was at the book signing at Notre Dame! I hope you remember me! 😉 i was the second girl you signed a book for! i just wanted to say you were MAGNIFICENT! i couldn’t stop talking about it all night……. plus i was up until 2 last night reading Speak! thank you for being so generous! also, i was the girl whose mom’s cell phone went off during the presentation…… she says sorry! 😀
    ~Your biggest fan! 🙂
    – Abby

  4. Hey, I just wanted you to know that I’m a big fan of yours. I can’t wait to read “Prom”… I’m sure I’ll love it. Thanks for all that you do to inspire young writers like myself. Love you!

    –Trish

  5. Hey, I just wanted you to know that I’m a big fan of yours. I can’t wait to read “Prom”… I’m sure I’ll love it. Thanks for all that you do to inspire young writers like myself. Love you!

    –Trish

  6. Hey, I just wanted you to know that I’m a big fan of yours. I can’t wait to read “Prom”… I’m sure I’ll love it. Thanks for all that you do to inspire young writers like myself. Love you!

    –Trish

  7. Tea Ceremony

    I like it! Maybe I’ll try the ceremony when I go to an airport next…ger I hate airports…ugh…they’re so busy and everyone’s so grumpy and hustly. Very annoying and nervous-making…
    Take cares.
    Caitlin XOOXX

  8. Tea Ceremony

    I like it! Maybe I’ll try the ceremony when I go to an airport next…ger I hate airports…ugh…they’re so busy and everyone’s so grumpy and hustly. Very annoying and nervous-making…
    Take cares.
    Caitlin XOOXX

  9. Tea Ceremony

    I like it! Maybe I’ll try the ceremony when I go to an airport next…ger I hate airports…ugh…they’re so busy and everyone’s so grumpy and hustly. Very annoying and nervous-making…
    Take cares.
    Caitlin XOOXX

  10. I thought I was one of the only tea queens on lj…apparently not. 🙂
    I don’t know how you feel about peppermint, but Celetial Seasonings CANDY CANE tea is AMAZING.
    The perfect mixture of peppermint, vanilla, cinnamon, and de-caf. green tea.

  11. I thought I was one of the only tea queens on lj…apparently not. 🙂
    I don’t know how you feel about peppermint, but Celetial Seasonings CANDY CANE tea is AMAZING.
    The perfect mixture of peppermint, vanilla, cinnamon, and de-caf. green tea.

  12. I thought I was one of the only tea queens on lj…apparently not. 🙂
    I don’t know how you feel about peppermint, but Celetial Seasonings CANDY CANE tea is AMAZING.
    The perfect mixture of peppermint, vanilla, cinnamon, and de-caf. green tea.

  13. Miss you too, sweetie! I wish you could have walked around the Notre Dame campus with me. You would have loved it.

  14. Miss you too, sweetie! I wish you could have walked around the Notre Dame campus with me. You would have loved it.

  15. Miss you too, sweetie! I wish you could have walked around the Notre Dame campus with me. You would have loved it.

  16. Re: 😀

    Thanks, Abby. Tell your mom not to worry. The look of horror on her face when the phone went off was priceless. I felt bad for her! Thanks so much for coming out (yes I remember you, you were wearing pink, sitting in the front row).

  17. Re: 😀

    Thanks, Abby. Tell your mom not to worry. The look of horror on her face when the phone went off was priceless. I felt bad for her! Thanks so much for coming out (yes I remember you, you were wearing pink, sitting in the front row).

  18. Re: 😀

    Thanks, Abby. Tell your mom not to worry. The look of horror on her face when the phone went off was priceless. I felt bad for her! Thanks so much for coming out (yes I remember you, you were wearing pink, sitting in the front row).

  19. Re: 😀

    hahah! that was pretty funny! just to inform you, i finished all 3 books of yours: Speak, Prom, and Catalyst…. at least i think thats all of them! 🙂 im having a hard time at school….. i need some advice. my friend just informed me that the whole 7th grade hated me…. i knew it was true but maybe im wrong… i only have 1 true friend right now and its hard not having my mom around to help me and ive been depressed….. please help! thanks!
    ~Abby

  20. Re: 😀

    hahah! that was pretty funny! just to inform you, i finished all 3 books of yours: Speak, Prom, and Catalyst…. at least i think thats all of them! 🙂 im having a hard time at school….. i need some advice. my friend just informed me that the whole 7th grade hated me…. i knew it was true but maybe im wrong… i only have 1 true friend right now and its hard not having my mom around to help me and ive been depressed….. please help! thanks!
    ~Abby

  21. Re: 😀

    hahah! that was pretty funny! just to inform you, i finished all 3 books of yours: Speak, Prom, and Catalyst…. at least i think thats all of them! 🙂 im having a hard time at school….. i need some advice. my friend just informed me that the whole 7th grade hated me…. i knew it was true but maybe im wrong… i only have 1 true friend right now and its hard not having my mom around to help me and ive been depressed….. please help! thanks!
    ~Abby

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