In the past four weeks, I’ve flown back and forth from Newark Airport three times. Once for my honey’s school reunion in Philly, another to attend the Book Expo in NYC, and “one mo’ ’gain” to go to a friend’s wedding (and visit my fam). And a little over a month before that, I was in Atlanta (and lived to blog about that frightful flight over at the Pulse Ro Com blog). So. lemmie tellya, I’m good with not seeing the inside of an airport for a while.
The only trip I want to take right now is down memory lane. There was a little bit of everything going on these past two months–I moderated a panel at BEA without passing out from fear of public speaking; got outted as a Facebook fradycat in Publisher’s Weekly; finally opened up a Facebook account; met so many cool authors at BEA; had lunch with Michael, my chill Simon Pulse editor; visited and held four newborn babies; had an awesome reunion with my bff from 5th grade; had a Sarah Jessica Parker (!!) sighting in NYC; attended a wedding at the family-run establishment famously featured in the “Housewives of New Jersey” series; and got pulled over by the NYPD in Brooklyn (for talking on the cell phone).
Here are some other highlights—with photos…and sorta in chronological order.
I got a haircut in Atlanta. But no matter how short I cut it, I’ll always have big hair.
When we got back from Philly, our dear friend/“auntie” Jocelyn (below) and her husband had a cruise stop in Bermuda and visited with us for one awesome day.
It’s always a treat to see author/literacy advocate Felicia Pride and my fab agent Adrienne Ingrum. Here they are at BEA, post panel discussion. (These ladies are so fly, they’re glowing. Really–that’s not a camera effect!)
Another big reason I love Brooklyn? Its Caribbean flava! Eastern Parkway (left), the site of the Labor Day Carnival Parade; and street vendors displaying sugar cane that seemingly grows from concrete. (You can take folks out of the Caribbean, but you can’t take…)
Minutes after my SJP sighting, I stopped to take a pic in front of the “Sex & the City” home of the onliest, “Carrie Bradshaw.” (Should’ve stood in front of the tacky “no trespassing” sign).
The banner at our neice Celeste’s pre-K graduation in East Orange, NJ, celebrating the first graduating class in the Obama era. (Harambee is the name of the school.) The hubby, my in-laws and I all attended. It was so adorable!
And finally…the best part of coming back to the island: My honey. (Seen here riding into our home’s driveway after work.)
