Notes from the Road
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 00:00
Traveling this week—talking about my book, Thriving After Divorce. I suppose going on a promo/road trip is like anything else you’re trying to accomplish in life: You have to stay focused…(sooo many distractions)… take care of your health…(sooo much junk food to choose from …so little time to eat it between flights)… stay focused… (oh yeah… already said that)… stay open to what you can learn – (especially if you haven’t been there before)… and expect the unexpected.
Day 1 Travel
From Greenville, S.C. to Bakersfield, CA, had several flights. On the first one, sat next to a lady who had been married to a Texas policeman who died. Her sister had also passed away from cancer … she was on her way to see the Grand Canyon with a friend. She talked about how she and her husband had been childless, had lived frugally to have their house paid off before they were 30, and how she had saved her whole life, no matter how much or little she had, (which now gave her a lot of security)… couldn’t help but admire her work ethic and sincerity. Didn’t hear any whining or self-pity. Very touching. Probably never see her again… but when we said goodbye, we hugged each other and both unexpectedly – cried.
(Note to self: just met a real angel…disguised as a human.)
The next leg of the trip, found myself sitting next to a woman who seemed aloof, privileged, and somewhat remote. As she talked, she eventually shared about her children – and her foster daughter whom she had adopted when the girl was 9 – and how she was on her way to visit her. As she talked about her, she broke into huge smiles of love and pride. She said, “Someone else gave birth to her – but she’s all mine!” I loved this woman.
(Note to self: Some people need a little more time than others to warm up and reveal their humanity.)
Day 2 and 3
Stopped in Bakersfield to see old friends and relatives. I can’t say enough about the Eyraud/Lorenzi family that I grew up with waaaayyyy out in the country. Gita, the matriarch, had her 94th birthday. It was a gathering, in her blooming country garden, of all the lives she’s touched with her honesty, loyalty, hard work, pluck, and irrepressible energy…with the gleaming blue eyes to prove it.
I also saw my Uncle Glendale, Aunt Ruth, and cousins Glenna and Bobbie Gail.
(Note to self: this is how you stay grounded – remembering where you came from – also good prep for impending TV shows.)
Day 4 and 5 Sacramento
Interview on Sacramento and Company felt like it went well – but I never like to watch myself on TV later because I start critiquing everything I said and didn’t say. (However – it will be up on my website soon and you can watch it if you’re curious.)
From Sacramento, drove to Nevada City, CA – just below Tahoe – to spend the afternoon and evening with college room mate, Julie Stauffer Carville – a long time botanist, ecologist, author of books about hiking and wildflowers – something of an iconic presence in that area. And she’s got sparkle. And as we ate lunch grown from her garden – deer watched us – and as we walked to her pond – a bear scampered by. I kid you NOT.
(Note to self: Walk softly through the meadow – but maybe carry a big stick?)
Day 5 San Diego
I thought this interview on San Diego Living went well too – the host was generous with praise and got fairly emotional about my book and whatever I was saying – and even started to get teary.
(Note to self: Take tissues to future interviews?)
Day 6 and 7 Denver
Two shows in Denver, Daybreak on the Deuce, and Good Day Colorado …but the on the first one, I was a little rattled when I arrived—the driver got lost taking me to the TV station— late, running through the lobby straight to the set with no time to check hair or possible lipstick on the teeth…. think I repeated myself a lot—probably had nervous tics and twitchiness on camera—oh well. (Note to self: Next time, take a GPS in my purse?)
Next interview, the host was exuberant and funny and I laughed—too long. When you have 4 minutes on camera, you do not want to spend 2 of those minutes cackling.
(Note to self: Remember what you’re there for!)
Day 8 Home
I’m sure you know this… but it’s just amazing how uncivilized air travel is. The size of the seats, the no-leg-room, the lines, the security checks… all come together into a crunchy mix. Days and days of it feels like being caught in a bottle of broken glass.
But how sweet it is to come home to husband, who watched the clips each day and shouted in the phone each night— “You were just fabulous darling!!”
(Note to self: So what if the plane trip is like being in the dryer on the settings of “hot” and “tumble”? It’s the people you meet along the way…and what’s waiting for you at home that matters.)
Next Road trip: Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Houston