Yahtzeit

I went to bed last night not knowing what to expect from the morning.

I woke early to both the cats huddled close, and a dawn cold wind coming in through the window. I waited, and the memories came. They will alway be with me, more vivid than film: the black and crimson gash, cutting diagonally across the first Tower. The glinting metal of the second plane as it circled and flew between the buildings, disappearing from our sight. The sideways-expanding fireball that came mere seconds later. The rise and fall of sirens, unending. The ash on the face of a rescue worker, a co-worker's husband; their embrace in the hallway before he went back down into the carnage. The stink and grit of ash in the vents, in the air outside. The blue of the sky, the mocking warmth of the mid-day sun.

The rising pillar of smoke behind us, thick and black as the devil's grin, as we walked away, trying to get home.


Five years ago I stood, helpless, and watched as 2,749 people were murdered.

Now, as then, all I can do is bear witness.

I will live. I will remember. I will mourn.


Yit-gadal v'yit-kadash sh'mey raba, b'alma di v'ra hirutey, vyam-lih mal-hutey b'ha-yey-hon uv'yomey-hon uv'ha-yey d'hol beyt yisrael ba-agala u-vizman kariv, v'imru amen.
Y'hey sh'mey raba m'varah l'alam ul'almey alma-ya.
Yit-barah v'yish-tabah v'yit-pa-ar v'yit-romam v'yit-na-sey v'yit-hadar v'yit-aleh v'yit-halal sh'mey d'kud-sha, b'rih hu, leyla min kol bir-hata v'shi-rata tush-b'hata v'ne-hemata da-amiran b'alma, v'imru amen.
Y'hey sh'lama raba min sh'ma-ya, v'ha-yim aleynu v'al kol yisrael, v'imru amen.
Oseh shalom bim-romav, hu ya-aseh shalom aleynu v'al kol yisrael, v'imru amen.



May God grant abundant peace and life to us and to all Israel. Let us say: Amen.
May Adonai who ordains harmony in the universe grant peace to us and to all Israel. Let us say: Amen.

a small nice thing....

When I first moved into the area, I stopped by a small B&N one town over. They had a decent SF section, but nothing crazy. I think they had one copy of one of my Luna books, but no real presence, and they weren't carrying the first Grail Quest. The woman was vaguely apologetic, and nice, but not much more.

I went back there again today, because I happened to be driving by on my way to the UPS store. Three copies each of each Luna title. A salesperson saw me stacking them up and said "are you going to buy all those?"

"No," I said. "I'm going to sign them."

The next thing I know I'm ensconsed at the front desk with a pen and 'signed' stickers, the guy (the day manager, I suspect) was taking my card and looking up inventory to see if they had anything else and -- !!! -- asking if they should order in copies of the Grail Quest books for me to come back and sign. and then told me about the new, muh larger store that will be opening in the new year, and how I should get in touch with them because they were set up to do events and signings and whatnot...

I love good, well-trained staff, I truly do.

(and then I discovered that right next door to that store is a Munson's. Fresh-made chocolate. Mmmmmm....)