I had a bit of an adventure last night. Let me suggest that if ever you find yourself trying to locate an address anywhere in New England (although Massachusetts seems especially egregious in this respect) - just give it up. Call a cab, hire a limo, capture a passenger pigeon - whatever it takes. The road system is so idiosyncratic (read: screwed up) that you’ll be lucky if you can find your own steering wheel!
I was headed for the Willow book store in Acton. It was only about 30 minutes away but in the complete opposite of the direction my travels, wants and necessities usually take me. So while that area isn’t entirely foreign, it’s not real familiar either. I had directions and I had the address: 279 Great Road. No problem, right?
I exited 495 and turned left. A little ways up the road I saw a building address in the 500s that confirmed I was on Great Road and I merrily tootled on until I saw the numbers on a house that indicated I was now in the 600s. Oops :) So I turned around and went back the other way. Ahh, I thought, This is more like it!, as the landmarks became less bucolic and more city-like. Watching the street numbers, I got to where the book store should have been - but all I could find was a gas station, a credit union, a Subway sandwich shop and a dry cleaners. I drove into and around every business for three blocks several times (and did get to see a bunny having an evening nosh in the grass behind the credit union parking lot). No bookstore.
Finally, in mounting desperation, I went into the dry cleaner’s.
“I’m looking for the Willow book store.” I said to the very kind lady behind the counter.
“Oh!”, she said, “That’s in Acton. This is Littleton.”
Littleton!?!?!?
She then gave me excellent and accurate directions and wished me luck.
I discovered, as I drove on, that the numbering system on Great Road is a little unusual. At the Acton/Littleton line, the numbers reset instead on just continuing to increase along the entire length of the road. So there really was a 279 Great Road in both towns. Urrghhhh…
The Willow book store, Acton, MA
I finally got where I was going and even managed to get a good seat for the evening’s festivities which were all about this girl:
Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee
Let me tell you, Steph is as personable, as friendly and every bit as funny in person as she is on paper (physical or virtual). She regaled us (60 or 70 of us, I would guess) for some time with tales of her travels and with thoughts about life and the transformative aspects of knitting. Then we all got in line for the book (bookbookbook) signing.
Book signing line
Most of us had brought our knitting along and it was a surprise and a pleasure to see so many projects and so many other knitters. There were socks and sweaters and shawls. I saw a set of wooden sock needles that I would have been afraid to breathe on lest they snap and pair of Brittany birches that seemed substantial enough to dig post holes with should the need ever arise!
Supplicant to the Harlot
I had brought along the ruffled Snowdrop to show her and she seemed delighted to see it. I apologized profusely for crocheting the border because the thought of picking up all those stitches make me feel weak. She suggested hard liquor :) “It helps”, she said. Aha - I knew there had to be a trick to it! Maybe next time :)
It was a quite enjoyable evening which ended sooner than I would have preferred as I really did have to get home. Thanks Steph, maybe another time :)
Stephanie’s itinerary can be found here. If she’s coming to your area, buy her book (if you haven’t already) and go and see her. It’s lots of fun, and so is she :)
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She is amazing and all over the place! What fun to meet her and have your book signed.
Lucky you! I keep hoping that Stephanie will come further south, but that doesn’t seem to be happening. I’d love to go to one of her book signings, but she doesn’t seem to be heading this way at all. I’m glad she seems to be as real & personable as I had hoped. Some celebs are a letdown in real life.
Margene - It certainly was fun. Being a fairly solitary person most of the time (not anti-social, just usually fairly asocial) I was a little nervous about the number of people around, but it was a great time and Stephanie is a great gal!
Samina - I didn’t get the impression that Stephanie thinks of herself as anything like a celebrity. Indeed, I suspect she’d be vaguely alarmed at the use if the term :)
I’m a little envious of you all being able to meet Stephanie - she seems just lovely from what I’ve observed! I agree that she would probably be a bit alarmed at the use of the term celebrity in relation to herself! So was snowdrop her pattern then? Cheers
Nat - Stephanie is indeed a sweetie :)
Yes, the Snowdrop was her pattern - except for the edging. Her pattern had you pick up all the edge stitches and knit the edging. The thought of even attempting that just scared the bejeezus out of me, so I crocheted the ruffle instead :)
Wow, and she thought of the coolest thing to write on your book too!
Erin - She sure did. Perceptive, eh?
Thanks for sharing your fun evening! Alas, Stephanie isn’t coming south at all during the tour - maybe for the next book! :::grin:::
What a wonderful evening, surrounded by knitters. I was hoping to go to the NH Sheep and Wool Festival tomorrow. But, funds are not going to allow it this year. I guess we are in for more rain on Saturday. Maybe next year….Have a great weekend.
Bron - My understanding is that there’s another book in the works - perhaps she’ll pay more attention to the western part on the continent on that tour?
Maureen - I know exactly what you mean. Someday I’d like to make it to one of the sheep and wool shows but right now - well it gives us something to look forward to, doesn’t it :) ?
