New Jersey, the R.V. and Smith Publicity

posted by Patty James @ 3:33pm, Wednesday 5 May 2010.

Tonight I am in Paramus, New Jersey after driving on the 10 lane New Jersey Turnpike. I am on a very busy road with little room for the dogs to walk, so it's not ideal, but the very sweet woman at the counter makes it all worthwhile. A connection to a person always makes it or breaks it for me. She thinks I'm funny, why I don't know.

As I write this I am eating a sprouted lentil salad I bought at the Trader Joe's across the street. I must say I risked my life to get it. These roads are clogged and these folks really want to get home. I also bought a few staples to take with me to New York-figured they be cheaper here than there.

This morning I began with a visit to Smith Publicity in Cherry Hill, New Jersey which isn't far at all from Philadelphia. It was great to meet the owner Dan Smith and Corinne, who was the first person I worked with there before her position changed and I began working with Erin. We talked about a lot of different things, mostly about my adventures and what I have learned about the kids and their parents and also what I have learned personally. The natural segue was future books. I told her about my outline for the first book based on what the kids say they want/need. The outline is 2 full pages and about to get longer, so I won't give you all the details, but suffice it to say they were jazzed. They think the concept is great-nothing like it out there- and think it's going to be very popular. I told them about my friend in NYC who I have already chatted with about it.  He and I shook hands on it, so that's it for me unless we can't come to term with all the details, then I have 2 other people in mind to create the recipes the kids want to learn. I'll know more after my meeting with him on Monday morning.

The really big news and what gets me through the RV news is about my son Russell. He was on an extended mission (patrol) in Afghanistan with no contact with anyone. Needless to say I have been really nervous and stressed. I received a brief email saying he's back on base-hadn't taken a shower for 16 days, but is good and that he enjoyed sleeping out underneath the stars. He also thanked me for the packages I sent. When the people you love are safe, that is all that matters and you can cope with almost anything else.

This brings us to the R.V. They tell me today it will be July before it's ready. Really? July? The accident was in February. It really doesn't pay to get upset I suppose as it rarely does any good. The plan was to stay with Victoria outside of Chicago in Naperville from the first week of June until it's ready about 10 days to 2 weeks later. Now what? I am welcome to stay as long as I want, thankfully, but Erin has me booked at some big media stops in Atlanta the second week of June which was going to be when I was heading south. I either skip the media stops in Atlanta (CNN land and a huge media opportunity) or go and plan to rent a place in St Augustine for 2 weeks and work on my next book. In NYC I rented a VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) and it was pretty reasonable, and I suppose I can do the same thing in St Augustine. Remember I said I always knew I would be in St. Augustine. Well, my first stop there was pretty intense, but now I'm heading back for a longer time frame. I can adjust or not. I can look (or find) the positive or not. I choose to think that I am meant to go back there for reasons I can't explain quite yet.

I have had some very wonderful comments on previous posts-thank you everyone. I like knowing that people think of me-it really, really helps me a lot.