This will be a fairly long post so apologies ahead of time.
Well, Stephanie's visit was well worth the wait and was the best time I've had in a while. I'm so glad I went! I'll fill you in if you missed it and wanted to go. It started out with my husband, daughter and I leaving Fort Collins at about 4:15. For non-knitters out there (my husband included), this would seem like more than adequate amount of time. But I had anxiety the whole way down that I was going to have to skip seeing her if the line was too long. We had tried so very hard to find babysitting for my daughter and if it not for her, I would have waited as long as it took but I knew my window of time was very diminished with her coming along.
We got to Tattered Cover and my husband was snickering that there wasn't even a line. Little did he realize that the line was upstairs. I purchased my copy of her new book and headed upstairs and got to the end of the line. There were about 80 people ahead of me. Person #1 had been there since 7am I heard! Wow! Diehard. It was a wonderful sight. A line of knitters all knitting! In line I met some wonderful people, all so very nice. I pulled out my new felted design and started knitting with the rest of them while my husband headed off to eat dinner with our daughter.
Just a little tangent here. We all know knitters are especially nice people--nicer than the average person. But I've honestly not felt so babied this whole pregnancy as I did yesterday. Just recently we were at a restaurant and had to wait for quite a while to sit down, and though I preferred to stand, it would have been nice if someone offered their seat just so I could feel like anyone cared. My husband was absolutely floored that not one person offered up their seat. He's the one guy who would have but that is just who he is naturally. I personally wasn't at all surprised because I have not been one of those women that has experienced people being very helpful in my pregnancy at all. But yesterday was so refreshing. I had people helping me the whole time--offering me their hands to get up off the floor, helping me carry my stuff, and more which I'll fill you in on later. Everyone is so NICE. This is why I knit! The people I've met along the way are just so kind.
Ok, so they hand out tickets so we can go in for her talk. My husband, dad, and daugther arrive and bring me some gumbo. I was starving. I eat as quickly as I could. The line starts to move and my husband, daughter, and my dad head off to the Cheesecake Factory. I rest assured that they are ok and I can try to enjoy myself. While waiting for Stephanie to appear I meet and talk to many more knitters. It's fun! Then my husband walks in the room. My daughter is on the brink of breakdown. NO! But she hasn't even arrived for her talk let alone allowing me to get my signature. This can't happen. My dad, who has been my husband's helper, has to leave. Brian reassures me he'll take her to look at books and text me if she really wigs out but he says if this goes past 9pm he's worried. I think to myself "oh this won't go that long." He leaves. Then I hear the news that her talk is going to last an hour and then she'll sign. My heart sinks. It's 7:25 at this point. Stephanie is due to talk in five minutes. If she talks until 8:30 and then signs that puts us past 9pm and we still have an hour drive home. I have the most wonderful husband in the world no doubt. And I know he will do everything he can to make this happen for me but I also know he has spent all week working and every evening working physical labor on our basement. He is tired. I know trying to keep our daughter sane will be a lot to ask. I move my big belly to an end seat so as not to disturb those around me when I have to leave.
At this point you're wondering, "Couldn't your husband have stayed home with your daughter?" I should note that I'm due to have a baby in less than two weeks and we both decided that going together was the best bet just in case. I had a long drive and I had to park far from the store and walk in the dark and I was grateful for my husband's concern. So yes, in a normal circumstance I would have gone alone and avoided this all together.
Ok, back to my story. The kind knitters sitting behind me make me an offer that they'll get my book signed for me and mail it. They're wonderful! I am so grateful. I try to give them postage money. They say, "Aw, we're knitters. No way." Like I said, knitters are wonderful people. I decide that I have to at least hear her speak and see her so I text my husband that I'll come down at 8pm and have someone get my book signed for me. He texts back that they're ok and to please stay.
7:45pm (I swear I hear her crying somewhere): I text, "R U ok?"
Brian texts back: Yes, please stay.
8:00pm: I text: "Still ok?"
Brian: Yes. Did you get my last text. Please stay.
Ok, now I have to tell you that Stephanie had appeared and been talking and had us all rolling in laughter. I don't think an hour could have gone by faster or slower. I'd find myself enjoying myself and getting into her talk and then the mom in me would worry that I should leave. I was so torn. I wish so very much that Brian could have heard the talk. Yes, he wouldn't have got a lot of the inside jokes but he would have a better perspective on why I love knitting so much. Plus, I go fishing and try to be involved in things he loves so it would have been nice to share that but it wasn't meant to be.
My thoughts on Stephanie: She's hilarious! We all know this. Her books are so funny. But she is even funnier in person. Her voice is deeper than I'd have thought--in a good way. In a talented talk radio kind of way. By the way she mentioned her books would be going on audio soon. Her talk was so well put together and funny. She touched on how non-knitters (muggles as she callls them or CHOKE) just don't get the world of knitting and stash. I won't even try to do her discussion justice by explaining it but it was so very, very, funny.
8:25: I text: "You still ok? She's almost done. You can come up and stay with me until I get signed. I'll text when she's done." --By texting this I at least feel less guilt knowing I can share the burden of taking care of a child that is melting down.
And then a wonderful thing happens. Stephanie mentions that she's going to mess up the Tattered Cover's system and ask that everyone understand and allow moms with kiddos to come up first to get signed no matter what their number was (I was number 70) The room supposedly sat 262 and it seemed filled to capacity to me. I was lucky to be 70 but that still meant 69 other knitters all trying to get pictures and talk about their blogs ahead of me.
8:30: I text: "Come Up NOW." This is my insurance policy that if I have Sophia there that nobody will question me heading to first in line. Surely a melting down child will be evidence that I'm ok to go. But I didn't even have to do that. All the folks around me had seen Sophia crying before. All of them had witnessed me texting like mad. They were all pushing me to go up saying "Go Carolyn Go to the front!" Again, knitters are SO NICE.
So, I go to the front. I'm flustered. Wait, where's my camera? ARGH! I'd left it at my seat. I don't want to lose my place. No picture of me and Stephanie for my craft room. That is ok. Brian and Sophia show up. Sophia is saying, "Mommy!" and tugging at me and trying to get my attention. Stephanie says hi and asks my name. But wait this isn't how I pictured it. I was going to get a picture with her and tell her about my blog since I know she cares about this stuff but Sophia is all over me. What is my name again? "Carolyn," I grunt. Oh. My. Gosh. She signs and is pleasant and kind and I must get out of the way for others. The moment passes. At least I got a moment though! I wish I had been able to enjoy it more but I'm just glad I got to go. So good of Stephanie to know her audience and know that moms are torn. I took this picture of her later as she signed for others. I'll see her again. And take a picture without the baby weight face--you know the look.
All this has me wondering how I'm going to do with two kids! Will it get easier? Will I ever have time alone to go to events with my husband? Life is sure going to change for us again soon.
I have a lot of knitting news but I'll post it this weekend. This was long enough. I can't wait to see what the Yarn Harlot says about her Denver visit!
