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A Thought for Today
I’ve been young and I’ve been old and
have determined old is better.
This
One Did It For Carol!
TEXAS BOOK
FESTIVAL REPORT BACK
Carol Widel was one of the
lucky ones who got to attend the Texas Book Festival this past weekend.
Here's her take on
proceedings.
Dear Ken,
Yesterday, October 30, 2004, I had the wonderful experience of attending
the Texas Book Fair. I flew into Austin yesterday morning and back to
Florida last night. Of course I was at the poetry reading and book
signing. Actually, those were the only things at the fair that I went
to.
The poetry reading started promptly at 12:45 p.m. The auditorium in the
Texas State Capital building was almost full of people most of whom
seemed to be very long time fans of Rod's. After a very nice
introduction by one of the book fair officials Rod took the podium. He
opened with his "shock and awe" joke and then talked about being a
"seasoned citizen". Then he began the reading. All of the poems were
from "A Safe Place to Land" or "Rusting in the Rain". Rod opened with
"Lillian at 50". Then he sang, without music, "The Complete Madame
Butterfly" which I'm sure we're all familiar with. The rest of the poems
were:
Some Sopranos
I Always Knew
Age is Better
Each and every poem received thunderous applause from the audience. By
now it was 1:10 p.m. and Rod threw the floor open for questions. That's
when it became apparent how familiar the audience was with his life and
his work. Rod graciously answered every question from questions about
his work to questions about his family. He even sang "The World I Used
To Know" when one of the audience members requested it. He also sang
"Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes" as well a little bit of the two Cy
Coleman songs he will be singing next weekend at "THE BEST IS YET TO
COME". I won't tell you what they are. I wouldn't want to spoil Ann's
fun of trying to guess ahead of time.
The audience was having such fun, as was Rod that he would have gone on
much longer, but the book fair official called for a last question to
end it. (Another author was scheduled in the room at 1:45 p.m.)
Like Rod always does,
he created a completely HUMAN experience that brought the audience into
his world.
Rod
answered the last question and received a standing ovation from the
audience.
The action then moved to the book-signing tent. I took my time going
over there because I knew there would be a very long line. There was. I
arrived about 15 minutes after Rod did. By then all of his books were
sold out, so I spread the word in the line about ASPTL and Stanyan House
where they could buy all the books they wanted. Luckily, the Barnes and
Noble people who sponsored the tent had lots of bookplates available, so
Rod signed them for folks instead.
Rod & Carol at the Texas Book Festival, October 2004
I stayed until the end and Rod and I got to spend some time together
when he wasn't signing books. At 3:15 p.m. it was all over and Rod and I
said our goodbyes until next weekend when I see him again in L.A. All in
all it was a wonderful day and could only have been better if Wade had
been there...a fact that Rod and I both acknowledged during our
discussions.
Love and Hugs,
Carol Widel
Thanks for a terrific
report, Carol. It sounds like a wonderful event and your letter really
made me feel a part of it.
More good news reaching us
this past week was the recent announcement of the upcoming marriage
between Larry and Beth Anne.
Beth Anne and Larry - New
York City, April 2003.
Photograph courtesy Carol Hough
Congratulations! I'm told
the romance started at Rod's Carnegie Hall concert last year so it's
fitting the wedding will take place in the same city in October of next
year.
Much happiness to you both.
If you have a favorite
McKuen song or poem you'd like featured here, or a question to pose,
drop me a line at kenb@mckuen.com
and I'll make sure your letter is featured right here one Wednesday
soon.
- Ken, Johannesburg,
South Africa, November 3
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