Meet the Author
AKA: Homecoming at the Venetian ~ It was as if I was holding court at the Italian restaurant where my mother and I had gone to eat dinner and my sister, Kathy, the restaurant’s manager, was the master of ceremony. Over the course of our dinner – angel hair pasta with garlic, olive oil, and shrimp – three of the restaurant staff and two customers, all who had read “The Jim and Dan Stories,” were escorted by Kathy over to our table to meet my mother and me.
“This is my sister, the author, in town from Virginia,” Kathy said during the introductions, causing someone to ask if she was my manager.
“Oh, I have a few of those,” I answered, glancing over at my mother and smiling while sipping a Red Killians from the tap.
It’s always exciting to get feedback on my book (about losing my two brothers a month apart) and to meet readers who were touched by it, but what struck me most about meeting these readers were the losses that we all had in common and how it bonded us. One woman lost her husband and a son. “We’re in the same club,” she said with a wink as she reached over to touch my mother’s hand.
Another woman spoke of losing two sisters, and the man (Hull High Class of 69) who had lost his father and his first wife, actually used to hang-out with my brother Danny, which made reminiscing with him especially meaningful.
I didn’t sign any autographs, but I did leave my card with my blog address on it for the man who I share a Hull history with and whose last words to me were, “Write another book!”
The food was great, the interactions spontaneous, the atmosphere festive, and the feelings heartwarming. And I loved watching my gadabout sister, who had worked hard as a waitress for so many years, thriving in her manager’s role.
It couldn’t have been a more enjoyable night if we had tried to make it happen by planning it, and it was a great change of pace from visiting and worrying about my dad in the hospital. Thanks, Kath. You’re an all around great manager!
November 4th, 2005 12:37 pm
Hi Colleen
Thanks for popping by my blog earlier.
Michelle sent me
November 4th, 2005 3:12 pm
Great story. I’m guessing there’s never a lull in conversation when you and your sisters and mom get together! Just a hunch!
November 4th, 2005 4:09 pm
what a great relationship you have with your mom and sisters. you are blessed. 🙂
November 4th, 2005 7:26 pm
Hey, I love it! kathy
November 4th, 2005 10:15 pm
You make me sorry that I am on only child.
November 4th, 2005 10:40 pm
It’s always good to make memories with family. Even in difficulty time with them is always precious. Hope this finds your father doing better.
November 5th, 2005 3:52 pm
Wishing you and yours only love. HUGS
November 5th, 2005 4:18 pm
It sounds like a wonderful evening.
Your comments on the bond between others that have suffered a loss reminded me of a quote by Helen Keller;
“When it seems that our sorrow is too great to be borne, let us think of the great family of the heavy-hearted into which our grief has given us entrance, and inevitably, we will feel about us their arms, their sympathy, their understanding.”
November 5th, 2005 10:17 pm
I always go into Michele Agnew’s site blind yet come out seeing more than I expected. It is very nice to meet you colleen.
November 5th, 2005 10:28 pm
Do you have a link to your book posted on your blog?
Michele sent me.
November 6th, 2005 9:34 pm
This sounds like it was one of those truly special evenings that you COULDN’T plan if you tried, and how great is that?
Hope your Dad will be feeling much better very soon. When you mentioned your Mom, I thought…’How has she survived these losses, and your sister, too? I would imagine that the book would be extremely comforting to both of them, as well. I hope that is the case.