The first road trip for Peter, as he publicized Becoming Ezra Jack Keats with me, held both glitches and connections. My sister Beth arranged for events near her new home in Atlanta and invited our other two sisters, Gwyn and Ruth, to join us. There would be a signing at Read It Again Book Store, a visit with residents in her new digs, and a meeting with her book club that had chosen my book for their June read. What could go wrong?
On the train, I received an email from the book store. My books had not come in. They suggested cancelling the signing and asked about rescheduling possibilities. They had advertised the date on their website and Facebook, and I had advertised on this blog, so I racked my brain and came up with a suggestion. I could sign book plates for those who came in and they could call the purchasers when the ordered books arrived. They approved the arrangement, and Peter joined me at the table they set up for me on Sunday afternoon.
Peter and my sister Beth, who accompanied me, thought our first guest looked like another glitch. He stopped for a frenetic conversation, saying he had a pressing task and would come back later. Neither Peter nor Beth expected to see him again, but fifteen minutes later he was back, ready to finish his chat and order a book. The best part of the book store signing came when a mother and daughter, friends from the past, arrived. (I thought thirty years ago, but they counted and it was even longer!) In addition to our “old home week” reunion, the daughter, a special friend to our youngest son, now teaches AP English and is interested in using Becoming Ezra Jack Keats with her students.
An unexpected connection came at Beth’s new place when one of the ladies mentioned spending many career years in Japan. Peter was glad to show her his pictures in the Japanese version of The Snowy Day.
Our final event was Beth’s book club with no glitches. Members, having read the book analytically, discussed the connections they had made to history and to their own lives. Peter enjoyed greeting new friends as I signed their books.
Peter coped with the glitches, enjoyed the connections, and followed conversations although he was a bit warm in that red snowsuit. He had never seen the four McGee girls together and kept turning his head to keep up with the dialogue. He could see why I always count on their support as well as their suggestions.
Peter now anticipates future adventures with me, prepared to savor the experiences and adapt as needed. His calendar is marked for July 28 at 10:30 when the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Mississippi hosts an event that is open to the public for snacks, conversation, and book talk. Then it is on to the Mississippi Book Festival on August 19 where he will join me on a nonfiction panel. Of course, books will be available to purchase at both events.