Happy Christmas to All and to All, a Good Night

It's not yet midnight as I begin this post (goodness knows when I'll publish it!).

It is in fact not yet 6:30pm Central Time. Books on First has been officially closed over 2 hours ago and Larry has been on the road for about a half hour. He looks forward to homemade BBQ Pork Lo Mein (the dish, not the pork) as well as jello with fruit in it (bring your own whipped cream) and burnt, hard-as-a-rock oatmeal raisin cookies -- his favs.

Our Christmas gift to each other is a trip to Toronto, beginning 9am on Boxing Day, with a flight on Jazz, whichI believe is a regional feeder for Air Canada. We booked on Air Canada, but look forward to this interesting aspect of airlines today. I am wondering why a flight from Chicago to Toronto does not warrant a regular Air Canada flight, but maybe not many Chicagoans want to go to Toronto and vice versa, making it a prime candidate for Jazz Airlines. I have never really walked this city which I am told is very cosmopolitan and look forward to all the culture to be absorbed. Of course, we will seek out bookstores, coffeeshops and live music venue as we can. Larry is handling the research on this, so he's got the Toronto Book of Everything ("The book the locals buy!). I took a look at the book, which is a real browser-trivial pursuit type of reference. Just tell me where the bookstores and coffeeshops are. An index, an index, my kingdom for an index!

I donated to USO today in memory of Frances Dunphy, who served in the Coast Guard during WWII. Did you know that the USO is not part of the Federal government and needs donations just like any other private not-for-profit? Books for Babes did very well this year, thanks to the generosity of Books on First customers and we were able to buy nearly $200 of mittens, scarves and hats for the children with a portion of the proceeds from purchases for this program. Everyone in this time of economic bottoming has been very caring of those in the community, whatever that community may be defined. Let us all continue to remember our community, now and throughout the year.

Happy Christmas, everyone! And to all, a good night.

Remembering Les Paul and Frances Fanelli Dunphy

Larry just told me about the death of Les Paul, whom we saw in 2002 at the Iridium in New York (two years before this picture was taken per AP), while in town for the BookExpo at Jacob Javits Convention Center.
That was a serendipitous occasion. Larry was reading one of those visitors' bureau publications put into the hotel room for guests' information for "things to do" (yes, and we didn't even need to fire up a laptop), and he said, "Look, Les Paul is playing. I didn't even know he was still alive." So, we had to go. Already dark, of course, as it was after 9pm on a June night. Walked down Broadway, enjoying the hustle & bustle and lights of New York City at night. Nearly passed the unobtrusive entrance to the jazz club with a lone attendant at the door. Paid the cover charge. Walked into a room where all the light was focused on the stage on which Les Paul sat on a chair with his guitar in lap with two much younger musicians accompanying him. The audience sat at small tables in almost total darkness not more than a few feet away. And, except to respond to the show (ripple of laughter, round of applause), in attentive silence (I recall little of that chit-chat you usually hear in clubs during live music). It was a very intimate setting, and an enjoyable and moving time, being in the presence of a living legend.

Let me also take this moment to mention the memory of Frances Fanelli Dunphy who passed away one year ago Tuesday (11 Aug 2008). I like to think we had a tiny bit in common. We celebrated Mother's Day together, two women who had borne no children yet were (still am) quietly proud and loving grandmothers. She had a rich life, enjoying playing cards and participating in so many groups and extension classes. I loved hearing stories and talking with her about her childhood in Amboy, IL, her stint in the Coast Guard during WWII, her family including her brother who died in The War, her sisters, nieces and nephews, the Fanelli Candy Store where she worked after school (she especially liked assignment to the Dixon branch shop where there was a soda fountain),... And she made the best fruit pies -- especially crust which "makes" the pie. She used to make a special one to order for a family member's birthday. Since Larry's b-day is in February, he once asked for a raisin pie, instead of one made of frozen or canned fruits. I had never heard of a raisin pie until I met Larry and then, Frances. We all miss you, Frances.