No rest for the wicked…

The reading at Open Books, Seattle’s poetry-only bookstore, was wonderful. The owners, John and Christine, provide the most gracious atmosphere one could wish for and John did outstanding introductions – truly moving – for Martha Silano and I. We were both a little nervous about being recorded for a possible local NPR show, but I think we did okay. The place was packed and the audience was terrific. Anyway, I can only say positive things about this experience, and if you get a chance to read at Open Books, you should. And now they have some signed copies of our books, if you stop in. Thanks to everyone who came out – I loved seeing your faces!
Husband G. and I are picking up the lovely and talented Kelli Russell Agodon on the way to the Skagit River Poetry Festival today, which starts Friday morning (I’ll be talking with high school kids all morning) and then readings that night and the full-on, everyone invited festival all Saturday, from sunup to sundown. I’m a little nervous about reading with Gerald Stern & co. on Saturday afternoon (4:15) but excited about meeting a poetry hero of mine, Anne Marie Macari, who reads right before that. Tess Gallagher, Billy Collins, Nance Van Winkel, Elizabeth Austin, and the aforementioned John W. Marshall from Open Books, along with a bunch of other famous poets, including friends like Peter Pereira and Kathleen Flenniken, will be there. After this I’m declaring a one-week poetry sabbatical. Did I mention that Silk Road is going to print next week and all of my MFA end-of-semester materials just came due? Oh, the fun, the madness!
Someone mentioned on Tuesday night how much healthier I am than just a year ago. What a difference a year makes! I’m hoping for the health thing to hold up a little longer…come on, immune system – and I’m grateful for all these fun opportunities. I just need a week of sleep to catch up. Then to school on the 10th on June!