Small Towns Rock – Thank You Larry

Yesterday my Toyota (yes the one in The Claire Saga) was scheduled for its regular maintenance. How do I know that? Well this sign pops up on my important dashboard screen that prevents me from seeing anything else except a notice that my car is due for maintenance. This sign has been sitting there for a week, so I finally gave in and brought it into Main Street Car Repair which is on your right as you enter into Berthoud Proper, just after Ziggy’s (where I get my Latte most mornings) and just before my dentist, Hayes Market and Grandpa’s Cafe on the right.

Now the proprietor of Main Street is Larry. For some reason he always reminds me of the actor/comedian Bob Newhart, if BH wore glasses and had a moustache. He is about the right size and physique, and has a very similar voice and speech cadence and delivery as BH.

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Bob+Newhart&mid=159460BF2BC9363C920E159460BF2BC9363C920E&FORM=VIRE

Well anyway, Larry checked in the car first thing yesterday morning and before I went to go he asked if I had a moment. I said sure, since I would be just walking around town while I waited for the oil change and fluid checks.

Larry then went through a close doorway and returned a moment later with paperback copies of An Alien Appeal, Kissing My Ass Goodbye and Finding Jimmy Moran.

At that moment, I recalled signing a copy of The Wise Ass for Larry when I brought my Toyota in a few years back. But since Larry never mentioned the other books I figured he probably hated the first one and I didn’t want to sound too needy asking about it.

So naturally I was absolutely thrilled to inscribe each of the three books with different messages because I believe you should put in a little effort if someone is going to the trouble and expense of buying any of your books. I even mentioned in one that Larry is the guy who keeps the magical Toyota in The Claire Saga running.

Of course I then snapped a selfie with Larry and the books to commemorate the moment.

People don’t fully appreciate how much this particular writer enjoys inscribing his books. You see, it was one of the first things I fantasized about when I first signed the contract for TWA with BRW.

I never understood how any writer would be bothered by someone coming up to them and wanting to talk about their book.

Each reader means something special to me. I don’t exist as a writer without them.

If I wanted to be left in my own silent world, I would have joined Ordo Cartusiensis, assuming I was crazy enough to become celibate as well. But a life without talking and sex sounds a bit too much like Hell to me.

And I never understood those writers that just sign their book “Best, [undecipherable signature].” I always put the requesting reader’s first name and include something personal that separates them from all the others with that first name, that ties them to that particular moment with me. Of course, if someone has multiple books, I try to write something different in each, but the first book always gets the longest inscription.

Like many domineering nuns before her, Lisa is always instructing me to “write legibly.” I do my best but these hands have been through a lot, so my cursive writing has seen its best days. Still, I also will read out loud the inscription if I feel it ventures too close to chicken scratch. I will try and print as a last resort.

Speaking of hands. While I waited for Larry to complete my Toyota’s maintenance, I stopped by Fickel Park in Old Berthoud.

The Fickel family has deep roots in the Berthoud area.

There I shot some interesting hand photos with the cool sculptures.

Come on now, he was screaming for a high five!

Couldn’t leave him hanging.

And given my preferences for large sentient creatures, I then spent some time with a Walrus and his calf.

And yes, I could not resist a selfie.

You can see we have comparable moustaches. And there is that hand again.

And I would have been remiss if I didn’t snap a photo of Berthoud’s most famous citizen,

Harley. A wonderful dog who became the nationwide mascot against horrific puppy mills.

That is why I strongly recommend and encourage that you adopt pets from shelters.

Well, Larry worked pretty quickly yesterday and within a half hour I was back behind the magical steering wheel of my Toyota and heading back beyond the outskirts of Berthoud to Casa Claire.

I miss Riverdale and the rest of NYC, but I love my new home town.

Well, I have a lot of outdoor weekend chores on my plate today so I better get moving before my chronic bone idleness sets in.

You fine, five readers should get an early start on your errands as well, so you can free up your afternoon for something fun, like reading/rereading The Claire Saga before Where The Ley Lines Meet drops next month. I know Larry will be all set. Just saying.

But first I need to go cuddle some kitties and make my rounds.

And remember, no matter what else we get up to, let us make today a great one.