Feb
If I Can Make It There, I Can Make It Anywhere…
If you’ll remember from last week, I was asked to give a talk during a President’s Circle event for the Multiple Sclerosis Assocation in New York City this past weekend.
Well, I did it. And can I just say–oh. my. gosh?!?!?!?!?
The event was held at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum on 42nd Street. The room it was held in was essentially a wall of glass overlooking Times Square (the New Years Even ball, the lights, the billboards, you name it). And then there was me, standing at a podium with this stuff behind me.
Talk about surreal.
I only spoke for about seven minutes, but I felt good about it–the telltale I’m-giving-a-speech-in-front-of-a-roomful-of-strangers dry mouth thing not too noticeable.
I shared with them a small handful of moments that stand out in my life. I talked about a moment of awe as a child, the moment my dream to be a writer was born, the day I saw my very first book cover, the day I got my Agatha nomination call, and, finally, the day the doc broke the news.
I shared with them the good that’s come from that not-so-great moment and I got to say “thanks” for this organization’s help at a time I needed it.
It was exciting. And memorable. And the backdrop???? That was a moment in and of itself.
So how about you? What’s a moment that stands out in your life as being tough-to-top?
~Elizabeth
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:30 am
I’m reminded of the Our Town play where the dead girl is given the sight into one day of her youth… they tell you to pick an unimportant day because there’s too much emotion even in that for you to handle. So one of my moments is kind of that — the day I had lunch with my soon to be grown up son at the top of the Space Needle in his soon to be new home town of Seattle. The food, the view, and the company — amazing.
I think my second wedding was one of those moments as well. Just before the ceremony, my hubby leans down and kisses me. And then blows me away by saying, “I should have done this a long time ago.” After ten years of living together, it’s nice to feel the magic still.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:38 am
One of the first book signings I ever traveled to was to Murder By The Book In Houston. A friend of a friend was the manager there, and my friend put us in touch. David, the manager, said “well, we’ve got a noir panel coming up with Duane Swierczynski, Jason Starr, Allan Guthrie, and…Ken Bruen. You want to be on it?”
Now, I’d never heard of the first three, but they’re now some of my favorite, get-the-book-the-first-day-it-comes-out-writers.
But Bruen? Holy cow…I’d read THE GUARDS a few months previous, and it had knocked me on my ass. I’d read all the Bruen I could get my hands on. The guy was (and is) my favorite crime writer.
On the way down, I started getting the jitters. I knew these four guys knew each other and had worked together before. I was the new kid, and I just knew I was going to be the fifth wheel. I wasn’t going to get a word in edgewise. I was going to look like an idiot.
So I land, check into the hotel, and head to the bookstore early in the rental car, just so I know where it is. I walk in, and everybody’s already there. Ken Bruen—KEN FREAKING BRUEN!!!!!!–is in the back signing stock. I’m chatting with Duane, and we’re quickly finding out we have a a lot of interests in common. Ken catches my eye, gets up, comes out into the store, and gives me a big hug. He tells me in that great Irish brogue, “I really loved ‘THE DEVIL’S RIGHT HAND.”
I’m like “take me now, Lord, so I can die this happy.”
The panel was a smashing success, we all went out to a great dinner that night, drank, talked, joked and ended up at David’s apartment at 3 in the morning listening to Ken read from HER LAST CALL TO LOUIS MacNIECE–after which he insisted we all read to him from our own works.
it was pretty cool, and Ken and the other guys have been great friends since.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:57 am
Nothing tops being the first in my family to graduate from college. I almost didn’t make it because the year before I was sick and didn’t know if I would finish college. Then one day I got a note from the school telling me that I needed to attend the awards ceremony. I couldn’t figure out why because I really didn’t do much in the school community except helping when they needed extra bodies, helping the dean, helping the administration earned me recognition among the school personnel, so that the year I graduated I was awarded the “Silver M” for my service to the college community, something I did not expect considering losing a year due to illness. That was one of the first times I saw my mom gloat with pride at me graduating from college and winning an award after the year I had.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:34 am
LOVE these stories! Lynn, love both!
Dusty, I can only imagine how cool that signing was!!! Wow!
Dru, that award had to be all the more sweet after such a tough year. Belated Congrats!!!
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Dru–you are right about being first in the family to graduate college—definitely a great feeling! Since I am piggy backing on you for that I will also go with 2 years ago doing the Aids Ride for Life and cycling 100 miles around Cayuga Lake. It took a REALLY long time (especially since I had not been on a bike for 5 years)..but 10.5 hours later I crossed the finish
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:41 pm
JD: Awesome story! Just…awesome.
For me, nothing will ever top the birth of my son and daughter. Joy, awe, fear that things weren’t going right. Never before, and never since have I felt such intense, conflicting emotions.
Stepping out of an airplane at 5,000 feet: doable.
Waiting for 10 fingers, 10 toes, bright eyes and lungs that work, and for my wife to come through it okay…at this age, I don’t think I survive it.
And yes, I realize my wife did the heavy lifting on both occasions.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:30 pm
100 miles. I can’t even fathom that, Nikki. Good for you!
Joe, I can’t imagine stepping out of a plane either. Gives me shivers thinking about it. As for the kids, yeah, I know what you mean.