My suitcase is disintegrating. I've too many of some parts of what I wear and not enough of others - I'm washing laundry in the shower. I'm drinking too much coffee. I miss Jeff, Fritz & Amanda at Continuum Cycles. I think nothing of a quadruple espresso. I called home yesterday morning or the day before, woke up Morgan, spoke for a bit and told him to go back to sleep. I called again later in the day. Turns out Ripton came home from college for the weekend -- he and I has spoken. I hadn't known. You want your kids to grow up healthy and happy. But do they have to go so far away? I'm away, but it's temporary, laundry drying in the back of the rental car en route to Milwaukee.

Sometimes you walk down a street and what you need, not what you're asking for--more than that--is right before you. If you've read my book, you might remember what this photo alludes to. I can make something better. Maybe you mostly can.

The woman at A Room of One's Own Feminist Bookstore, in Madison, WI, who'd driven 60 miles and told everyone there that What Else But Home is not only a great story but beautifully written, please do be in touch. Thank you for your enthusiasm and respect of the work.

I was at Wordstock, the hot hot book fair in Portland. I was paired with Jerome Gold, who'd written a book about his 15 years working in a juvenile facility. Everything was beautiful and perfect. I stood by the Powell's stack of my books like an unrepentant Fruitchandler (the "handler" part) and told those reaching for What Else But Home that it was a beautiful book. I'd received schedule after schedule from the Wordstock peoples. I'd been interviewed for a podcast. I'd never heard a word from the Wisconsin Book Festival peoples except the original acceptance that I was in a feminist bookstore with a woman who'd written about Helen Keller's teacher: Kim E. Neilsen, author of Beyond the Miracle Worker: The Remarkable Life of Anne Sullivan Macy and Her Extraordinary Friendship with Helen Keller.

I'd have to rush out of Portland, fly to Seattle, change to Chicago, sleep 3 hours in an airport hotel, fly to Madison, get a car to downtown and wait till a bookstore opened at noon. I wanted to cancel.

The room was full at A Room of One's Own Feminist Bookstore. I was wrong. The Midwest peoples wanted to know about Philippe, Anne Sullivan Macy, Juan, William, Helen Keller, Morgan, Carlos, Kindu & Ripton. And you, the woman who drove 60 miles, said you'd read that I'd messed up and missed Bellingham, and you're right.

I have to rush to Wisconsin NPR, Lake Effect.

My loved ones,,, hug, hug, hug - & where appropriate, kiss, kiss, kiss