I'm leaving tomorrow for 12 weeks. I won't be blogging, reading blogs, or emailing for the duration. I will miss it. I like instant communication. If you want to write me letters I would LOVE that. You can get the address from my mom.
(I just got to hang out with my amazing boyfriend for 3 days. He's back in the States after a semester in New Zealand. He's wonderful and now I get to spend all summer with him.)
The End. (But not really. I'll talk to you in August.)

My dad took me to see her. He's a good dad, caring about what I care about, (and paying for gas). I took Bird by Bird and Plan B with me just in case. I really wanted Bird by Bird signed. It is my favorite, but I didn't know if that was bad book-signing etiquette since she was there to promote Plan B. I stood up on the balcony to listen as she read and answered questions. She was hilarious and smart. She steered clear of politics, which is probably best while in Dallas. She talked about New Orleans and her current, almost complete, book. Then I sat down, waiting for my set of numbers to be called to go get in the signing line. I re-read some of my favorite parts of the books to my dad and we tried to come up with something clever and unique that I could say to her.
They called my group. I got in line.
I asked her if it was bad book-signing etiquette to ask for Bird by Bird. She said that it was fine and signed both while I rattled something to the effect of:
"I've been trying to come up with something to say to you for like a week now but everything just sounds really cliche and dumb because I'm a horrible writer, but I really appreciate you and thank you for your honesty." I sounded totally cliche and dumb, but she was generous enough to humor me and ask, "What do you love? What's your thing?" I said writing and teaching. (I don't really do either one so I'm kind of a liar, but I do love them...and hate them.) Then I said, "So yeah. I just wanted to thank you and will you be my friend?"
She said yes. well...she said "Yeah" in kind of a hippie whatever-you-say-weirdo kind of way, but I'll take it.
Anne Lamott is my friend.
I walked away quickly before she had the chance to change her mind.