about that book . . .

Roses from Portland’s amazing Rose Gardens I have about another two
hundred thousand on my phone as the place was not to be believed,

Photo and video overload ahead. You have been warned.

Yes– the past six weeks have been an absolute blitz for me. Below is my best effort to share a glimpse from the speeding train. If you are looking for instagram perfection and photoshop dazzle, keep walking. Not only is that not me, I couldn’t do it if I tried . . I don’t think I have shared about the life changing experience that the week in Norway was (I SWAM in an icy cold river. That’s pretty much all you need to know as I intend to keep telling people that for some time to come) — or the healing and fun that was my mom’s memorial gathering that began two days after I got back from Norway or how the day after the family weekend I got on a plane to Portland, OR– all of which to say–there has been a storm of BIZZ-EEEE swirling around me and I can’t go backwards– am gonna just dive in and start with the book stuff.

What I LOVED about each of the three places I have sat and talked about the book is that it was authentic, intimate and in a most beautiful setting.

And, I got to connect with the most open hearted, wonderful people.

First up, Portland, Oregon!

My nieces surprised me by flying in from San Diego and Denver to be there with me and they stayed three days so that was an absolute epic life adventure that we had and something that filled my heart in ways that defy summation. It grounded me into such a deep happiness, I just can’t even.

Jared, Luigi and their amazing events manager Jamie chose The Hoxton as the setting and oh man, could it have been more perfect? We were in “the Apartment” which meant I could choose to locate myself in the kitchen– which I did because, seriously? Could there possibly be a way to make me feel more at home, more myself than to be chatting with friends in a kitchen? Um, no.

Of course, let’s be clear. This is the UBER kitchen of all kitchens and bears little resemblance to my own although if anyone from The Hoxton is listening in please note I would HAPPILY live in that kitchen! It was sumptuous– replete with green velvet stools, for god’s sake. Holy hella. Dang. (FYI, half of the 18 million photos I had to plow through to choose these few for you today are of the interior as my beloved interior design luminary, Lauren, could not resist documenting the decor). It was amazing.

That’s Jamie there on the left helping me (below). She made it all work so seamlessly. In the second video, you can see her helping shape the whole discussion with her thoughtful questions.

There were Squammies there (hi Mona!) including my sweet Michelle who brought a single blue hydrangea which not only graced the books the entire evening– it was the one souvenir that I brought home with me to remember the feeling of being surrounded in so much love.

I don’t have words enough to thank my beloved friends Jared and Luigi who came up with this whole idea– hosted me in their beautiful home, took me out with a whole long table full of their fabulous friends Friday night (<–whoa, unchecked alliteration going on here)– for a dinner that felt beyond celebratory. It felt like the very best in life itself– unless of course we were in Italy, which– it kind of almost felt like we were. Great food, friends, conversation into the wee hours ending with a fire pit in the back garden. My idea of heaven.

There’s way too much video to share, so I just grabbed a couple of quick clips:

Question: How did you decide to write this story?

Reading from Chapter 3

One million thanks to everyone who came out and brought such an open heart, such great questions and such fabulous energy. You made me feel so loved, so appreciated. THANK you.

Also– I met a woman named Nathalie (in photo below) and would love to continue that conversation if anyone knows her– please send me her contact info.

Okay– from Portland, I drove up to a little town near Seattle where my soul sister Autumn lives. She is such the sister, that I literally arrived on her doorstep Sunday night and as she went to greet me with warmth and hugs all I could say was– I need a hot bath, now. (Yeah, I am a super gracious guest– you really want me to come visit you). Of course, once I had grounded back into myself– hot baths are my go-to for that– I was able to join into the family and felt as I always do in her home, at home.

The next day, Sunday– we went to the magical dream shop, The Atelier, which gave me the chance to reconnect with two West Coast Squammies: Michelle and Eileen who did me the incredible honor of driving out to see me– plus make some new PNW book-loving friends!

Got home from Seattle and the next day walked into the dentist’s office for a bit of surgery since I broke a tooth Thursday morning (yes, the day of the book party) on an Altoids mint. Hey, nobody said writing a book was gonna be easy, but a broken tooth was not really on my agenda. Lucky for me, it was an easy fix and I love my dentist– so once the novocaine wore off, I was packing up the car to head to Squam!

Are you surprised that when I arrived I had NO voice– as not even a squeaky toy voice? No? I was. I had never lost my voice before and it was a shocker. Had to cancel one of the yoga classes I was scheduled to offer but by Saturday I had enough of a Demi Moore growl to guide some intrepid yogis into savasana.

Saturday night I sold all the books I had brought with me plus seven more that I shipped out the next day! (THANK you Squammies for all your love and support!!) So that was amazing– and I have no photos of that at all. Just one of me with Gerri who came and sat with me during the evening.

I am glad she is all glowing and gorgeous and trust you will keep your eyes on the right half of the photograph as if there were a prize for a look called “crispy fried”– I believe I nailed it in this shot.

Remy and I are home now. It is Friday and I have finally sat down to put all this together to share with you. Which is really in the nick of time since Sunday there’s a little celebration happening here in Providence, then Monday my spirit sister Susannah is rolling into town for the week! Then I head to Atlanta, then London, France and home again (before I head to New York in November). The hell?!

Yeah, it’s like that.

I think Remy summed it up best:

bisous, Elizabeth