Monday I traveled afar with my best girl to a Borders store in Ann Arbor for a book signing by David Sedaris. We did all of our homework as to the event time and such, but when we arrived we were abruptly turned away. Something about wristbands. We didn't drive 2.5 hours (I had only flown home the night before at 10pm) to be turned away and after some quiet reasoning with the manager (rather different from the belligerence of others) pity was taken upon us. Apparently news of the wristband sitch was on NPR and in the local paper. It was not, however, on the website and there were no indications outside of the store that entry was limited to those who had been lucky enough to get a wristband. Logic and a bit of sympathy won us two seats in the front row. I was well chuffed and wrote to Borders to thank the manager, but at the same time made suggestions as to how the angry mob could have been avoided. That may seem as though I did not appreciate the kindness shown to us, but it was really to save others from the heart-crushing feeling we had being turned away.
The reading was incredible! I laughed until I cried. He read for an hour and then proclaimed that "No book would go unsigned". I gave him a small gift (a pen made from recycled car parts that came all the way from England where they rescue monkeys), but my parasitic twin was much more interesting to him. I admit a bit of disappointment at the way he signed my book. He handwrote my name and then stamped in Greek the word EPEIGON. I don't know if he was so busy fawning over Dixie (who he thought was a teen and must have made him feel like his writing had made the next step by bridging that age gap) that he forgot to write his name or if it was due to my having a different book than the one he was signing (which was only because I prefer to buy paperbacks and they did not carry it in paperback) or if he just liked her better. She got name, clever drawing, signature. I was so jealous.
Anyway it was my first book signing, I had a great time, and David Sedaris stayed for hours chatting to each person and signing multiple books (some girl actually had the balls to bring 3 to the table and then pull 2 more from her bag - and then requested to butt in front of everyone to have 2 more items signed!!!!!)
I did not come up with anything witty to say, but he barely took his eyes from Dixie anyway. I tried to find a contact address to let him know how awesome it was that he stayed for hours and hours, but no success.