More Things Fall Into Place

The other day I got an email from my local community college about their Best-Selling Author series and that A.M. Homes, an author I like very much, would be there on Tuesday night, February 5. I read further on and saw that she would be discussing her newest book, a memoir entitled The Mistress’s Daughter, which talks about her adoption, being found by her biological mother, and subsequent search for identity.

I went alone as no one would go with me — Well, Gary would have but he had a showcase to attend. A date night with myself — not bad at all. I left early to get a good seat. I was a little disappointed that her reading and Q&A was only 45 minutes total and then it was on to book signing, but I did purchase her memoir and get it signed. While up there, I got up my nerve to take 20 seconds of her time and let her know that we are considering adoption, blah blah blah. Her ultimate reply to me was that “Don’t we all have identity issues to some degree? What is the alternative, to not have a loving family who *wants* you? To stay unadopted?”

She wished me luck and then I was off, to continue my date night and go to one of my favorite local restaurants, where I have never eaten alone before, to find a cozy table for one and begin to read my book while I enjoyed one of their specials and delicious onion bread.

I read 50 pages while at the restaurant, often checking the clock of course to make sure I didn’t go past the babysitter’s curfew. Some people at the table across from me smiled and commented on the book — they too had just been to the reading.

I was mesmerized by the storyline, A.M. Homes’s ease with words, and also happy to actually be quite comfortable dining and reading at my cozy table for one.

I was happy for this night.