Saturday, March 7, 2009

Aloha

I’m in Kona, Hawaii at Left Coast Crime. It is supposed to rain 11 days a year here. It was raining last night when I arrived and is raining again today. I am taking that as special. Not that the rain is bad here. Except that the wet pavement made my feet sleep out from under me this morning as I was carrying some bags back from the gourmet market. Not that that was too bad either. Some man came to help me up, apparently expecting the worst (he said something about how easy it was to break an elbow). I was fine. Not even a scrap or scratch. I got up and continued on back to the hotel.

This is the first conference that actually has my books in the onsight bookstore. It was pretty cool to walk in and see Hooked on Murder, Dead Men Don’t Crochet and Blue Schwartz and Nefertiti’s Necklace all on display. So when I have my signing time, there will actually be books somebody might want me to sign.

Last night on the flight I was crocheting the pouch purse for the fourth book. I love crocheting on a plane. It is like meditating. I don’t think, my fingers move and I totally relax. One of the fight attendants asked me what I was making. I explained about the crochet mysteries and gave both her and her partner flight attendant bookmarks for Dead Men Don’t Crochet. She got all excited about the book marks and the books, she wanted to give me an on the house drink. Hopeless non drinker that I am I declined. Instead she opened the snack drawer and gave me cheese and crackers and a bag of nuts which was a welcome gift as I got to the hotel late and food operations were limited. The gift became my dinner.

I love Hawaii. Every place I’ve been on the islands is great. This is my first trip to Kona. My room has a balcony with an ocean view and I could sit and look out forever. There are some side trip possibilities. I’m pretty sure I’m going to go whale watching. Ah, I looked up and the sun is beginning to come out even as I still here the tinkle of rain hitting something. I’m going to go look for a rainbow.

3 comments:

Linda O. Johnston said...

Sounds like a delightful trip, Betty. Hope you continue to enjoy it, sign lots of books--and don't slip again in the rain!
--Linda

Betty Hechtman said...

Thank, Linda. I spoke too soon about the rainbow. The sun only teased that it was going to come out.

Anonymous said...

Ah, Kona!

Hawaii's a great place for people-watching. Never seen so many different body types in one place before or since.