Two Novels and a Guitar

I meant to say some things about the reading series, of which I partook in on Monday night. I raced to get to the Lower East Side from the Upper West Side and got lost (have I mentioned I am directionally challenged?) and was late. Graham was outside Mo Pitkins with my guitar. I gotta say, I know that I have boasted about how I am SO HAPPY that G. is not a musician, but the man looks GOOD with a ratty guitar case on Avenue A. I just gotta say it.

Because I do SO WELL with getting lost and being late, I ran upstairs to Leigh, who had offered the gig, and proceeded to act like a complete spaz. In one single breath I apologized a million times for being late and offered to not play if it was too late, because it was their first reading series, and man, was I sorry I was late, etc. late. etc. She looked at me as if she was going to say, "Do I know you?" but instead said, "It's okay! Go talk to the sound man."

It went fine. The best part for me, was to be in a room in New York, where people walked in a room and not only knew my name, but gave me a hug. Most of the women who came I had just met at the Old Girl's Club, and it felt so good to see them again. Felicia has pretty much killed all stereotypes I might have had that New Yorkers are harsh and stand-offish. She makes me feel like I have known her since we were thirteen, and used to bum cigarettes or tampax from her behind the girls' gym. She's incredibly warm and funny and generous. She said to Graham, "Oh, I've read so much about you!"

The readings were inspiring. Natasha Radojcic and Lisa Selin Davis were excellent. I listened to Lisa read from her new book and it made me realize that I really didn't know how to write and I better get to work. For my part, I felt a little like a thumb among a crowd of fingers. When I stepped up with my guitar, it felt like the audience was humming in their heads: One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just isn't the same... Yet, people said it was good and I even sold a CD. I had fun too. It WAS great to be playing one song, and to be among these great women who write and publish and are funny and smart and beautiful. I feel like I pulled a card of Chance and it said 'You have just met all the really cool people in New York, advance TWENTY SPACES!'

Graham and I left with a possible dinner plan with two new friends, fifteen bucks richer, and all the amazement that this town can provide.