I leave Sunday for two and a half weeks to promote Rockabye up the western coast. And I'm going by myself. At first, I had this fantasy of bringing Archer, of having a sort of caravan situation, but it wasn't realistic and if I've learned anything these past few signings, a book signing is no place for an almost-three year old. No place for my almost-three-year old. 

Archer at my Book Soup reading in Los Angeles. He insisted on reading an excerpt himself. Cute but the kid's heavy and underneath those lights, man, was I ever sweating like a wrestler. 

So I'm packing my stuff, even though I don't have a suitcase. My suitcases are all down south in San Diego in my parent's garage which is where I still store my stuff because I'm, like, eighteen still. Trapped in the pregnant body of a twenty-six year old. It feels weird packing for myself. I'm so used to packing for all of us. For Archer. His duffel bag remains empty. He's staying here with Hal, who still hasn't found a job since the writer's strike happened back in December. It's a struggle right now for all of us but the silver-lining is that Hal gets to be with his son. They get to have boy time, which is a lucky thing. We're all grateful for that. Hopeful that the job market might smile down upon us but grateful for the time it has allowed for my boys to bond like homies. 

The last time I went to San Francisco I was pregnant with Archer so it feels kind of neat to return, pregnant with #2. It feels kind of like I'm going on an adventure not alone. And when Babe II is born I can tell him/her about his/her pre-life adventure up the coast with me in my pocket. From San Francisco to Vancouver and all the places in between and how I rubbed my belly for good luck.

If only I had a suitcase, though.  Packing without a suitcase is difficult. I tend to over pack and without limitations I have, well, no limits. 

I'm excited and nervous all at once. I have that poopy feeling in my stomach and it isn't gas. It's hard to pack alone. It used to be all I knew. And now? I can't stop glancing back at the empty red duffel with Archer's initials on the front pocket.

It would seem that life as a rent-a-car vagabond might not be as easy as it was before I became a mother. 

*** 

Tour Update:

April 22nd: Oakland Reading/Signing @ A Great Good Place for Book @ 6:30pm

April 23rd: San Francisco Reading/Signing @ Books Inc, Marina Location @ 7.30pm

April 24th: Grass Valley Reading/Signing @ The Bookseller @ 5pm

For more dates and locations, click here.