On historic Tuesdays in Chicago
Like many of you, no doubt, I never thought I’d see it in my lifetime. But on that historic Tuesday in Chicago, it happened. There, near the storied grounds of Grant Park, a new day dawned.
I’m writing, of course, of Tuesday, October 28, 2008, the day that BOWLING ACROSS AMERICA: 50 States in Rented Shoes was finally published. After a long struggle of many years, its presence in the front display of the Borders Music and Books on State Street was surreal. A triumph of dumb luck.
On that historic Tuesday, my family joined me in Chicago, along with a hundred or so friends, to usher in the new era of literary hope in a part of the city named for the truly noble man who rose from obscurity through the Illinois State Legislature to lead this great nation. The Lincoln Park location of Seven Ten Lounge hosted the party–a celebration of unity, semi-athleticism, and canned beer.
As the soothing sounds of DJ Cesare’s jet-set era lounge groove gave way to the jarring grind of his Foghat-heavy set, it was time to go home and rest up for the reading tour. Borders on State Street bore witness to my first stammering-but-pleasing-enough reading, complete with slide show and visual aids. The next day it was Borders in Oak Brook, IL for another too-fast reading and signing.
Having taken a brief holiday from history the week of November 3 to refine my presentation and prepare for the remainder of the tour, it’s now off to Cleveland, Columbus and St. Louis this week. Hopefully I didn’t miss too much in the way of world events while polishing my one-man-reading-aloud act. Regardless, the readings promise to go much smoother and be even more entertaining than the first few. Hope to see many of you there.
