Oak Brook, IL     Thursday, Feb. 11    So I’m looking out at about 20 or so bright hopeful faces and in my peripheral vision I see my parents, my daughter and my aunt and uncle and I’m being introduced by the Barnes and Noble CRM (Community Resource Manager) and…I’m off!  Reading to young children is like jumping off a cliff.   IT’S DANGEROUS.  There are  potty breaks, sniffles, interruptions, fidgets, and even pint-size hecklers occasionally.  Before going on, I did not say a prayer for good sales.  I said a prayer that I could connect with the children and draw them into the stories in our books.

So I dove off the cliff and it felt ELECTRIC.  We danced through Dear Baby, Let’s Dance!  We played “what’s that color, and “where’s the frog” as I read an advance copy of Dear Baby, It’s a Colorful World.  When the children got a bit rowdy we played “FREEZE.”  Then I asked them to sit down so I could read a Valentine to them from their parents.  We played pretend as we wrapped blankets around us to get cozy and picked up a teddy bear or puppy to snuggle.  Precious moment: I heard one little boy say to the girl next to him, “I don’t get it.  Where are the blankets?”  The little girl looked at him in exasperation and said, “IT’S PRETEND.” 

When we were all snuggled in, I read Dear Baby, What I love about you!, a little board book Valentine.  One effervescent little girl kept smiling and laughing and saying “awwww.”   This is the kind of day that makes me think I have the best job in the world.

Wow, I turn my back for a few weeks and all of a sudden there are lots of comments on my blog.  Cool!  Mostly, I’ve been amusing myself for awhile.  It’s nice to see that others are enjoying it too.  For those of you who have asked about the RSS feed or a newsletter keep checking back here.  I will ask with Doug the web guru to see if something needs to be tweaked on the feed signup and I am starting to put together a newsletter with the first to go out by mid March.

It’s been a strange but wonderful few weeks!  First there was that quick look at Dear Baby, What I love about you! on Keeping up with the Kardashians.  So weird to see it on TV.  I have been getting some wonderful letters from parents who enjoy reading this book to their babies.  It’s so meaningful to me to connect with parents and teachers.  It’s inspiring.  Then there was my reading at the Sandy Springs Library as part of a new early literacy program spearheaded by the Atlanta Junior League.  Awesome group of ladies.  I had an adorable 4 year old heckler.  I’m not kidding.  She kept interrupting and answered EVERY question.  On the other hand she was very animated. 

I want to thank my friends and family in Chicago who have generously been spreading the word about my book signings this week.  It’s just…moving to see how excited people are for us.  Several months ago I wrote a blog about how “Some Dreams Look Good on a Shelf.”  I’ve been getting emails that the Barnes and Noble store where I have 2 of the signings this week has an endcap spotlighting my books and has been handing out flyers at the register.  Now that’s surreal. 

This process has also brought me back in touch with a few friends I have not seen or talked to in a long time.  I’m excited to catch up with them on where all our lives have taken us since we graduated ten years ago. 

Okay, so it’s not ten years ago.  It’s…It’s…It’s none of your business.  Let’s just say there was a lot of debate about Jimmy Carter, Michael Jackson had his lovely original face, and phones were GIGANTIC.

I’m in Chicago and it’s snowing. Big fluffy snowflakes just raining down from the sky. I was supposed to go back to Atlanta yesterday or today latest but I’m stuck here waiting out the storm.  I must say I’m not altogether unhappy about it.  I’m all cozy in my parents’ condo that sits next to a train station in the western suburb of Downers Grove.  The condo is on the top floor of a 4-story building and has a large circle of windows overlooking the town. Huge Christmas trees are lit up with lights and decorations. Steam pours out from the trains as they pull in and out of town dropping off groups of bundled up commuters headed for their cars and homes. I feel like I’m trapped in the most picturesque Christmas postcard imaginable.

Inside, the condo is decorated with all the familiar ornaments and holiday pieces from my childhood. And then there is Mom and Dad. They are 81 and 86, respectively, and as full of fun and life and romance as a pair of teenagers. This trip started off as kind of a favor. Mom and Dad came to Atlanta with my sister and brother-in-law to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. They were going to fly home but I could tell Dad wasn’t feeling good about flying after a recent medical procedure. So even though it’s not the best time to leave work, I said I’d drive them back to Chicago. It allowed me to help them get their tree up and get all their Christmas shopping bought and wrapped.  We did all that but in the end I think I was the one who received the better favor. I love our Atlanta home and life but I do miss snowy Christmases with my parents and siblings.  This stolen time with them has been a holiday blessing.

It’s 8:37 and John is attempting to put Ava to bed. I am looking at our office and lower level TV room and it looks like we’ve been robbed. There are toys, books and papers EVERYWHERE. I may have to wait until tomorrow to bring order. Note to self: GET A BASKET. This was a suggestion from our son Mike instead of having a couple bookshelves for Ava’s stuff. I kind of pictured myself telling Ava one toy at a time and cleaning up together but it hasn’t worked out that way. No wonder Leah needs a vacation. And no wonder why she’ll hurry back when it’s over. It’s just pure fun most of the time to live in this little child’s world. At dinner today, she told me to tell Grandpa NO TICKLING. So I told Grandpa, Please don’t tickle Ava. He said okay and she looked at me in wonder and said “He listens!”

It is 12:29 and I am sneaking in a little more work. Ava is playing quietly in the next room. She has in her hand a weapon guaranteed to strike terror in the hearts of parents and grandparents everywhere — a crayon. Now I hear the phone being dialed. Please God, don’t let me go out there to see “faux” painting all over our walls and furniture. She’s probably dialing China. I know I should go check but I’ve been trying to finish some letters. Wait a minute. She just poked her head in and checked ME. That can’t be good.

Today, John and I begin a one week babysitting adventure with our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter Ava. Our son Mike and daughter-in-law Leah are attending an out-of-town wedding and taking a short cruise. Actually, it’s our illustrator Jason Oransky getting married! Congrats Jason and Kerri!

Day One Highlights
-Ava called me her best friend and her happy friend.  PRICELESS!!
-She wanted to ride the carousel BEFORE lunch and told me firmly GRANDMA, YOU’RE NOT HUNGRY NOW. Maybe I should hire her as my personal trainer. Grandma did not give in since she does not want to be tyrannized by a 2 year-old all week.
-She loudly advised me during lunch NOT to fart in the restaurant and proceeded to do so herself.
-She rode the lion on the carousel at the mall and waved to everyone watching like a debutante at a ball.
-When were driving in the car she asked me to look at her foot. I told her I couldn’t turn around because I had to drive safely. She calmly told me, “Honey, look in the mirror.”  Is it possible she is a small adult and not a 2  year-0ld?

-Grandpa asked her if HE was her best friend.  She said NO, Grandma is.  SCORE!

-Why is this blog double spacing now?  It’s a mystery.

-Time for bed.  Ava really likes the ending of Book 2 Dear Baby, Let’s Dance!, which comes out in February.  So now we say it before every nap and bedtime.

‘Night ‘Night Baby, go to sleep

and dance all through your dreams

Jump that moon with a daring leap

and glide down silvery beams

: )  ‘night