Kate DiCamillo's Blog, page 20
October 31, 2013
Halloween, 1967.
Me, dressed as Bugs Bunny.
My brother was a scarecrow that ye...
Halloween, 1967.
Me, dressed as Bugs Bunny.
My brother was a scarecrow that year.
We went door to door on Linden Lane in Merion, Pennsylvania.
It was dark. Leaves scuttled like crabs across the sidewalk. Some of the trees were bare.
My father held my hand.
I realized that the world was large beyond all my reckoning.
Me, dressed as Bugs Bunny.
My brother was a scarecrow that year.
We went door to door on Linden Lane in Merion, Pennsylvania.
It was dark. Leaves scuttled like crabs across the sidewalk. Some of the trees were bare.
My father held my hand.
I realized that the world was large beyond all my reckoning.
October 29, 2013
I’ve got a birdfeeder in my backyard. It is up high so that the squirrels can’t...
I’ve got a birdfeeder in my backyard. It is up high so that the squirrels can’t get to it. This means that I have a hard time getting to it, too. I rely on taller friends to fill it for me.
It’s been cold here and I’ve been away and the bird feeder is empty.
Every time I go outside, the birds look at me in a hopeful and slightly disappointed way.
I asked a friend if she could come over and fill the birdfeeder, and she said, “I’ll get over there soon.”
“The birds look hungry,” I said.
“Well,...
It’s been cold here and I’ve been away and the bird feeder is empty.
Every time I go outside, the birds look at me in a hopeful and slightly disappointed way.
I asked a friend if she could come over and fill the birdfeeder, and she said, “I’ll get over there soon.”
“The birds look hungry,” I said.
“Well,...
October 24, 2013
Henry and I were out walking yesterday. It was cold. There were snow flurries....
Henry and I were out walking yesterday. It was cold. There were snow flurries. A very old man in a black overcoat came walking down the sidewalk toward us. The man was thrilled to see Henry. He bent down and patted Henry’s head and Henry went through some of his tricks. He sat. He shook hands. “That’s good, that’s right,” said the old man. And then he patted Henry on the head again and said, “Go on now. You can go on. You’ve made my day.”
It wasn’t until a few blocks later that I realized tha...
It wasn’t until a few blocks later that I realized tha...
October 22, 2013
In Flora and Ulysses, The Illuminated Adventures, there is a lamp named Mary Ann...
In Flora and Ulysses, The Illuminated Adventures, there is a lamp named Mary Ann.
On my desk, there is a lamp.
The lamp is a gift from a friend who read Flora and Ulysses and thought that I needed my own Mary Ann.
Every morning when I turn this lamp on, I think of the friend and I think of Mary Ann and I think of stories: how they connect us, how they pull us closer together, into a circle of light.
On my desk, there is a lamp.
The lamp is a gift from a friend who read Flora and Ulysses and thought that I needed my own Mary Ann.
Every morning when I turn this lamp on, I think of the friend and I think of Mary Ann and I think of stories: how they connect us, how they pull us closer together, into a circle of light.
October 17, 2013
It is 4 in the morning.
October.
Dark outside.
I’m leaving for the airport so...
It is 4 in the morning.
October.
Dark outside.
I’m leaving for the airport soon.
I just wanted to leave these words here before I go:
Thank you.
I can see the moon.
October.
Dark outside.
I’m leaving for the airport soon.
I just wanted to leave these words here before I go:
Thank you.
I can see the moon.
October 15, 2013
WHAT I KEEP THINKING ABOUT
is the small boy who was dressed up as Despereaux du...
WHAT I KEEP THINKING ABOUT
is the small boy who was dressed up as Despereaux during a recent school visit, and how he came up to me after the production the kids put on and said: “I don’t know if you remember me, but I played Despereaux.”
He still had on his gigantic ears and his whiskers. He still had hold of his needle sword.
His face was open, delighted, hopeful.
“Yes,” I said. “I remember you.”
“Good,” he said. “Can I hug you?”
is the small boy who was dressed up as Despereaux during a recent school visit, and how he came up to me after the production the kids put on and said: “I don’t know if you remember me, but I played Despereaux.”
He still had on his gigantic ears and his whiskers. He still had hold of his needle sword.
His face was open, delighted, hopeful.
“Yes,” I said. “I remember you.”
“Good,” he said. “Can I hug you?”
October 10, 2013
I have a lamp on my desk and morning glories blooming in my backyard.
The days...
I have a lamp on my desk and morning glories blooming in my backyard.
The days are getting shorter.
But there is light everywhere, still.
Still, there is light.
The days are getting shorter.
But there is light everywhere, still.
Still, there is light.
October 8, 2013
HAPPINESS
On Sunday, at the hotel in Pasadena, I got into the elevator with my...
HAPPINESS
On Sunday, at the hotel in Pasadena, I got into the elevator with my luggage in one hand and a book in the other.
A woman on the elevator said, “Look at you. That is smart. You’ve got a book to travel with. I meant to bring a book with me and forgot.”
I said, “Here. Take this one.”
“Really?” she said.
“I just finished it,” I said. “I loved it. It would make me so happy to pass it on to you.”
“Well, thank you very much,” she said. “I think I will take you up on that.”
She took the bo...
On Sunday, at the hotel in Pasadena, I got into the elevator with my luggage in one hand and a book in the other.
A woman on the elevator said, “Look at you. That is smart. You’ve got a book to travel with. I meant to bring a book with me and forgot.”
I said, “Here. Take this one.”
“Really?” she said.
“I just finished it,” I said. “I loved it. It would make me so happy to pass it on to you.”
“Well, thank you very much,” she said. “I think I will take you up on that.”
She took the bo...
October 6, 2013
Attention East Coasters! Kate's book tour is coming your way -- Connecticut, Bo...
Attention East Coasters! Kate's book tour is coming your way -- Connecticut, Boston, New York City. . . check out the events page for all the signing locations, times and details near you Oct 17 - 20th!
October 4, 2013
I leave San Francisco today.
It has been a wonderful visit.
Thank you to all y...
I leave San Francisco today.
It has been a wonderful visit.
Thank you to all you lovely people who came to Books, Inc. last night.
This morning, I went out walking and every time I stepped on the trolley tracks, I felt this hopeful hum and I thought: that is how story feels to me. That power and connectivity, that hope of going somewhere, that continual, sustaining, glorious hum.
So, here's to trolley tracks, stories, and the people who read them.
We are off to San Jose.
It has been a wonderful visit.
Thank you to all you lovely people who came to Books, Inc. last night.
This morning, I went out walking and every time I stepped on the trolley tracks, I felt this hopeful hum and I thought: that is how story feels to me. That power and connectivity, that hope of going somewhere, that continual, sustaining, glorious hum.
So, here's to trolley tracks, stories, and the people who read them.
We are off to San Jose.
