a different kind of July day

I've never come across a doppelganger -- of me or of anyone else for that matter. Do they even exist? But I did run into someone who had a remarkably similar (in form if not in content) life to mine. I wont bore you with the checklist of shared experiences, but I'll just note that she is an author person and I met her because she had the table next to mine at the Oregon Public Library today at the "Meet your Local Author" even held there today. (Her book is about Palestinian struggles -- something she knows intimately, being married to a Palestinian and raising three Palestinian children.)

As you may know, I do not love doing PR work on stuff I've written. I've agreed to exactly one reading, two interviews, and I did submit my book (Like a Swallow) for a competition and it did bring me a Finalist medal, for what it's worth. And that's it. But the Oregon Public Library event coordinator is a dynamic young woman who puts together great community events and I was reluctant to say no to the invite she sent out. Especially since this Local Author event was to take place on a Saturday, where my one other commitment was merely to snip lilies. 

And so this morning, I snipped only half the beds (no time!). And I took only a few pics.

(good morning!)

(bright and early)

(well, well, the glads --gladiolus murielae-- are starting to bloom! Their white flowers with grape throats, with tall straight leaves are stunning among the lilies!)

And I ate such a hurried breakfast on the porch... 

 

 

 

... that half my coffee stayed in the mug while I dashed about getting stuff ready for the book event. Because, of course, I'd done nothing at all to prepare for it. I wasn't even sure if I had the books to bring for a display and sale. In the end I scrounged up a handful. Thank goodness, because they did sell. 

Embarrassingly, I pulled out the poster boards from the elementary school Poland presentation I did last spring in my grandkids' school, and I dragged out the kid Polish costume I had in the closet. I had to put something on my table! 

Ha! They were, in fact, a draw. People liked to look at pictures of pierogi and comment on how their grandmother used to make some of those as well. Those who purchased the book will be disappointed to learn that I write nothing about pierogi in it.

My publisher (Little Creek Press) was at the event (here we are!)...

... and she lightly wagged her finger at my reluctance to push my book more. She did secretly tell me that she loved the cover of mine still so very much (she designed it, but I suppose you always have ones you're especially proud of), perhaps hoping that this would inspire me to put it out there more than I have done, but it's no use. I like to write. I don't like to promote.

 

I did not get home until late afternoon and I felt all talked out by then. Thank goodness Ed and I lead a quiet sort of existence. I wanted to say absolutely nothing to anyone for the rest of the day. (Yes, I admit it... I'm becoming more quiet with each passing year!)

Still, I felt compelled to return to my lily snipping job. Reluctantly. After all, the day will soon be over and the next day will bring on a new set of unsnipped lilies. Why not just wait until then?!

 

Am I getting garden lazy??

With that thought in mind, I took out my shovel and started in on the destruction of the driveway bed.

The bugs were on high alert, but I persevered. Ed helped by standing nearby and waving the bug zapper that makes a very satisfying snapping sound when it hits a mosquito. Small progress is better than no progress at all. (Can I appropriate this as my gardening slogan going forward?)

(in the afternoon light)

In the evening I reheated the soup and made salads and exhaled. Ed found a show for us to watch, we ate chocolate. A very satisfying conclusion to an unusual July day.

with love...