22 October

Book Tour: Longest Day,mid-point

by Jon Katz
Heading home

We staggered back to the hotel last night, loaded with pies, homemade biscuits, gifts, notes, photos of dogs. Got to hit the road, our Longest Day of driving, 12 hours to get back to the farm, and neither of us wants to think about it. Book tour is halfway over, and the long driving part will end today People were warm, enthusiastic, loving, and very aware of Maria and her work, which I appreciate. The trip was affirming for her, something of a miracle.

I love my early morning walks with Izzy through post-industrial America, a quiet spiritual experience. The desk clerk came out to meet Izzy. The hotel maids came over to admire  him in the parking lot as they came to work. A beverage truck driver came over to meet him. We walk through empty, cold and dark streets as the sun comes up, and  I always ask, “what kind of life do I want to live?” What do I want to do next. How lucky am I to have Maria sharing my life. Book tours can be cold experiences in many ways. Publishing has shifted to e-mail, and while I enjoy new technology, I like to talk to the people I work with once in awhile. An old habit. I love going to libraries. I love the new part of the book tour that brings me into contact with new kinds of people.

I love the enthusiasm for “Rose In A Storm.” I  love the impact of the blog and my photography on so many lives. We are off for a quick breakfast. We are somewhere in Ohio, lost in disconnected America, connected as never before. Will blog from the Ipad along the way, the rolling conversation continuing. Next stop, Hadley Mass, the Public Library (3 p.m.) and then Odyssey Books, next Tuesday.  My back hurts.

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