Autumn Romance comes to Denver

I knew this trip would be different from anything I’ve ever done – it’s a book tour, for one thing!—but as we roll along, I find myself deeper and deeper in delight...overflowing with thoughts and feelingse…

From Kansas, a straight shot to Denver, CO, a special destination for two reasons: one, Warren’s three daughters, Debbie, Lisa and Becky, are there, along with Becky’s husband Pat and their beautiful kids, Ella (3) and Rex (7 months). And two, Judy and Vernon, the couple on page 15, live in Denver.

We met Judy and Vernon almost three years ago when we sat in their kitchen and heard their story. We immediately fell in love with these two “gentle people” (as they say in the book). Since then,lots of emails--just a few phone calls--each one filled with affection and sincere good wishes. A solid friendship formed. Now, we sat in that same kitchen, eating a delicious steak dinner prepared by Judy and talked and laughed and caught up. It was a unique reunion.

One thing I wanted to do was to take one of Judy’s line dance classes (she teaches at nine different senior centers). So when she invited me, I thought, “Oh good! It will be easy and I’ll see Judy in action.” Well, there was Judy in action: 70 years old, gracefully demonstrating one elaborate combination of steps after another. And there was I, out of breath and always going the wrong way. The kind of line dancing Judy does ain’t at all easy. (“No more treadmill," I vowed to myself. “Line dancing is great exercise--plus it's FUN.")

Two days later, we had a book signing at The Bookery Nook, a wonderful independent bookstore that Shannon and Gary Piserchio started one year ago. This is an awesome shop, cozy as a living room but impressive as a library. The owners know and love books. They also carry top quality puzzles and toys and art supplies for children.

But the arrangements had been made from St. Louis. So a lovely surprise: we drive up to find this cozy, lit-up shop...then go in to meet the incredibly gracious and friendly owners, see the flowers and chairs so artfully arranged, and half hour later, a full house at the signing!

Judy’s family helped. She is the youngest of 11 sisters—and 6 of them showed up, along with other relatives. (In the top photo, Judy is at right.) What a privilege to meet such sweet, elegant women who are so loving to each other…

Two of Warren’s daughters came to the Bookery Nook (there they are in the front row, Debbie in the red shirt, Lisa with the long dark hair. Talking to them about love from a woman's perspective—very exciting. I got to see another side of them and they of me, and Warren. It was very cool.

The Tattered Cover bookstore stocked 8 copies of Autumn Romance and so we stopped to say hello on our way out of town. And then we were off (I’ll tell you about the Scary Mountain Snowstorm and the Terrifying Mountain Pass in the next post.)

See lots of photo for the above at http://www.tinyurl.com/yf498O9