This cemetery on Rte 30 in Hebron is a lonely place to be in a snowstorm, the first of the season. I love being able to record in images what I feel. Warm and cozy in the house though. I was reading about a writer I much admired, the academic and mystery writer Carolyn Heilbrun, who wrote that she would end her life when she turned 75, and that is just what she did, shocking and saddening me and others.
  I think it was her choice, and her right to make it. She wanted to end her life when she was active, productive and healthy, and so she did. Yet many could argue that would be precisely the time to keep it going. Watching my friend Mary Kellogg read poems from her second book at age 80, I thought of Carolyn, and I wondered about her decision.

 December 5, 2009 – First snow today. A busy day, an important day. We got up early, went to Gardenworks, got a Christmas Tree. Brought it back. Then went to Cambridge to sign books with Mary Kellogg at Battenkill Books. Then stopped at Gardenworks for some photos. Then in Cambridge for a tree stand. Stopped at the Cambridge Co-Op for some sesame crunch and a banana.
  Then back to the farmhouse. Cancelled plans to meet a friend in Saratoga, because of the snow and ice.
  Brought in the tree, set up the stand, put lights on the tree. Stopped to read. Maria reading “Death By Station Wagon,” one of my old mysteries, me reading an Inspector Sejer myster (Karrin Fossom). Last year, in one of many panics, I cancelled Netflix. Re-upped this week, and got two of my favorite movies in the mail today.
  Tonight, fires, popcorn, reading and then movie watching. Tomorrow, I rest more from my cold, still wearing on me. Maria goes to work. I made some tea. We  sat in front of the tree looking out at the storm, and I wanted to cry.
  This is good, she said.
   Yes, I said. It is.

  Mary Kellogg at Battenkill Books, Cambridge, N.Y.

  We took the “Whistling Woman” book tour to Cambridge yesterday, where lovely crowds streamed through the newly re-opened Battenkill Book Store for nearly three hours. The day had a strong sense of small town community about it. Mary gave two readings from her new book, I signed my own books and we sold some ASA calendars, to benefit farmland preservation.
  We are taking the tour to Glens Falls next, where Mary and I will join Maria, the potholder maven, to sell books, calendars and potholders, of course. We will be at the Red Fox Bookstore from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 17. Then at Northshire Books, at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 19, where the tour wraps up.
  Mary sold all but three copies of her new book, which is available at bookstores and online from the Troy Bookmakers.
  Izzy did his by now expected stellar job of greeting his fans. Connie has done a great job at Battenkill, a big, busy and beautiful store. She has a great attitude about publishing, and I share it. More people are reading stories in more forms than any time in human history. Reading is alive and well, on the Internet and off. Good time for storytellers.

Rose pursuing her Imaginary Squirrel

  Off to get a Gardenworks Xmas Tree. Then to get a stand. Then to Battenkill Books to sign books, calendars with Mary Kellog and Izzy and Maria. Photos to come.