Taking Midway comes out tomorrow. I almost forgot. I mean, not really. I get paid on publication, which makes it worth remembering. It's getting great reviews. Also nice. But almost a year has passed since I finished. That's the nature of this game. You write a book. Make it the best you can. Then wait and wait and wait until it goes into stores.
That's not why May 20 crept up on me. Take last week. I flew out to Palm Beach to discuss a new project. I'd never been. Didn't know what to expect. It was well past midnight when I got to my hotel. Arrived in total darkness. Impossible humidity. Thick heat. Bugs making noise in the darkness.
I woke up to the most amazing ocean view. Went for a run on a path between the Atlantic and Lake Worth. Sweated through my shirt in about five seconds. FInished feeling ready and focused for my meeting, which lasted the better part of the afternoon and evening. Ended the day with dinner on a bar on the pier, sipping cold beer as the sky turned black and a storm rolled in. I've always loved a good tropical downpour and this was no exception. Just sat there listening to the rain pound the tin roof, strong warm wind washing over me. I could have sat there all night.
In the morning it was on to New York. I was there for Taking Midway publicity. Spent three hours in a studio with Julian Dorey, talking history and writing. I had no idea I could talk so long without a break but it was fascinating. Not sure when it comes out but I'll let you know. Really great discussion. Ended the afternoon with a call to Des Linden to talk about the running book. Had a scotch with my agent. Took the subway uptown to watch an all-star cast in Glengarry Glen Ross. Went to bed early, anticipating a 3 am wake-up for the predawn flight back to Orange County. Made it home in time for practice. In the middle of all this, I wrote a couple hours every day, proving once again that writing happens anywhere.
There's actually more to talk about, like the great day of racing at the track championships yesterday — a meet so great that not even three hours of LA traffic on the way home could diminish because I ended the drive with a Matador pizza from Ballpark.
Here's the thing: I went into the week thinking I might cancel the whole trip. Too busy. Too this. Too that. Bottom line is that I'm so enamored of my daily routine that I didn't want to bust out for a few days. So glad I did. So very glad.
And now I have a new book coming out. Calene tells me I need to work on my gratitude practice. So this is me saying thank you. Life is very good indeed. Let me know what you think of Taking Midway.