At least one or two of my friends and my staff like to play the game “Six Degrees of Laura Pearle” because I can come up with odd connections to people (example, last February during the TSA check in Denver, the agent asked how long I’d lived in my current home; turns out, he’d grown up around the corner). There’s one connection that might make me appear to be a bit of a stalker…
A few years ago, I became aware of the author Grace Lin. Grace grew up in the town my parents moved to in 1969 (and where they still live), and of course that made me wonder exactly where in that town she’d lived. Here’s the “Six Degrees” part: in 1975, Grace’s parents bought the house my BFF Karen lived in before her father was transferred. I don’t know for sure, but it’s possible that they even “shared” a bedroom.
Shortly after I learned that, my friend Yapha was hosting Grace at her school and very kindly got a special autographed copy of her book, which she then sent to Karen. This past Sunday, Grace was at Porter Square Books promoting her new book and I was there. Not only was I there, I had a photo of her childhood home that I’d taken in early August. I swear, it was only because I was visiting my parents and I knew I’d see her that I’d even taken the photo – I’m not a stalker. Really. Nor am I sharing that photo with anyone except Grace and Karen. However, I did get this:
Even though I’m seeing Karen in November, this is going in the mail ASAP. Because that’s the kind of BFF/stalker I am.
Venn Librarian 