Fresh off my wild night, we are off to Troy, N.Y. and Market Block books where I will be signing copies of “Saving Simon” for the benefit of the Troy Public Library and for “Saving Simon: How A Rescue Donkey Taught Me The Meaning Of Compassion.”
We’ll be at the bookstore at 12:30 I spent the evening with Maria, the dogs and Frances McDormand playing “Olive Kitteridge” on HBO, a great performance, a great show, as wonderful as the book by Elizabeth Strout. I recommend it highly.
Last night, a mistake: I took a large dose of super-insulin, mistaking it for the longer term and gentler insulin I normally take, my blood sugar dropped like a plane falling out of the sky, but we responded with glucose, dark chocolate and cereal with maple syrup. I did not dare to go to sleep until we got it all under control, which happened around 3 a.m.
Not an entirely unpleasant evening, if you don’t count being a little freaked out. And better than an ambulance ride.
I am extremely lucky that I noticed the mistake, if I had gone to sleep it could have been a different night. I could easily have gone into a diabetic coma, Maria might have been asleep. But life happens and human beings mess up, that is the nature of things. Fortunately, this was my first mistake if you don’t count letting my heart nearly fail without noticing it.
This morning, I am okay and eager to get to Troy and go back to work fighting for Simon and his story, orphaned by my corporate publisher, who seems to have lost interest in me and my books now that I am leaving for another publisher. It’s the big game in the big city, and the rules are tough. I am a big boy, I hope. (If you wish to order the book through Battenkill Books, I will sign and personalize it, you will be eligible to win free dog food, photos, notecards and potholders. They ship anywhere in the world and take Paypal, you can order the book online or call the store at 518 677-2515, people are ordering it for Christmas.)
Simon taught me a great deal about compassion and I think it is an important lesson in our time. I am grateful to be writing this this morning, as I am grateful to have a healing heart, one that pumps enough blood and oxygen for me to walking all over creation again. I am lucky to have squeaked through last night without ending up in the hospital.
It was lovely to sit up and spend a few hours with two strong and beautiful women, Maria and Frances McDormand. I am bring a big lens to Troy, hope to take some portraits of fans and readers. Lucky to have those as well. I am grateful for my life, every minute of every day.