HOME. But New York is pretty good, too.
Arrived in Spokane yesterday afternoon to find glorious weather, all the pets thriving, and my plants flourishing. Just the way I like it!
I think the thing I love most about travel is the sense of discovery–always coming across new things, meeting new people, having new experiences. I’ll be a while processing all the input from the New York trip–from the deep sense of loss I felt at the site of the World Trade Center to the highs of good career news and signing book after book in the Harlequin booth, well, it’s a pretty wide emotional spectrum.
I’ve been to New York many times, but it wasn’t until this trip that I could bring myself to visit Ground Zero. For all the grief and sorrow, I’m glad I did. It was healing to stand there, recognize the terrible loss of so many people, and say my own silent, small good-bye. The pain lingers there, but so does the amazing courage of the many firemen, police officers, and ordinary citizens who rushed to help in any way they could, many losing their own lives in the process. I will never forget that as the understandably panicked crowds ran away from the scene, the rescue workers dropped everything and ran toward it.
New Yorkers have an undeserved reputation for being abrupt or even rude. I always find them helpful, friendly and quick to make a witty remark. They’re just in a hurry, that’s all, and the energy of the city is pretty speedy. 🙂
I’m thrilled to be back home. But I’m also looking forward to going back to NYC.
I love the restaurants, the shopping, and the flower stands. I had peonies in my room the whole time I was there, purchased across the street, and a lovely bouquet of white roses and lilies sent by my agent, Irene Goodman. Alas, Kate’s Paperie has been replaced as a favorite by Lee’s Art Supply–an unbelievable place. (I hear Brad and Angelina like to bring the kids there when they’re in town. No sign of them when I was there. :)) McKenzie-Childs is still Number 1 with me–I’m crazy about all those checks and stripes and flowers, and I love using their checked tissue paper in collages. I cadged extra from Timothy, my favorite clerk–we’ll see if he remembers.
I had a wonderful time with my travelin’ buddy, Sister Sal (she would want me to say here that she’s not a nun)–she turned out to be an intrepid explorer. To think I had to talk her into coming along! Now, she loves the Big Apple as much as I do, and navigates the subway like a pro. We took a ride through Central Park one sunny day, and it was so lovely–a standard New York thing to do.
Still, I’m glad to be home. Ready to push up my sleeves and dive back into “Tate”. It’s going to be a fabulous book, if I do say so myself. 🙂 Since it usually takes me at least a day to get back into writing gear, I probably won’t do much today, but you never know with me.
I’m pretty wild and crazy.
Speaking of wild and crazy, I just learned that I get to attend the Kenny Chesney concert at Frontier Days and sit in the VIP section. In the words of Gomer Pyle, oft quoted in my family, “Well, GOLLLLLEEEE!”
