Notes from the Road

Dearly Beloveds,
I have been touring the country promoting my book.
With my mother.
Which some may consider an act of unqualified bravery, but which has been, nevertheless, a great deal of fun.
We began in New Orleans—a town I adore, filled with the kindest people I’ve ever met.
Here’s a typical day.
Mother and I were scheduled to be interviewed on the radio.
Upon entering the radio station, I proceeded to regale the station manager with stories about just how much I love public radio. About how I’m just one of those people who sits out in his car until All Things Considered is over, no matter how much grocery shopping I have to do.
And she said, “Oh, that’s so nice. But this isn’t public radio.”
And I said, “Oh. Well then, what…. What is this…?”
And she said, “This is The Radio for the Blind.”
No fooling.
And I started saying how radio for the blind was God’s work. And then I asked, “But, ummm. And forgive me for being naïve, here, but can’t the blind listen to any…any radio station?”
And she said, “Well of course blind people can listen to any radio station, but we are The Radio for the Blind.”
And I said, “That’s very important.”
And she said, “We read books to the blind over the radio.”
Which really made me perk up my ears, and ask, “Oh. Well, uh. Well, are you going to read my…. I mean, are you planning to read my little book to the blind?”
“No.”
It seems that I'm a real wash-out with the blind.
But she was very, very nice about it.
Well, you can’t win ‘em all.