morrigirl | The Personal Demon Saga

Last week I spent three days on a single minded mission: to find and purchase a paperback copy of Kelley Armstrong's latest novel "Personal Demon." I thought it would be easy. After all, she is a New York Times bestselling author, you'd think every bookstore between here and Portland would've cleared ample shelf space for her newest release in its most affordable format. Not so.

Tuesday after work I hopped the train back up to White Plains. Having spent all weekend at home resting my injured foot, it was beginning to feel a bit better. It was still sore but I could put weight on it without cringing, and could even walk at my normal, speedy New York pace without too much difficulty.

So, I got off the train in White Plains and walked the three avenue blocks over to Barnes and Noble. During the short treck my foot started aching. Even so, I pushed through it keeping my eyes on the prize. Unfortunately, the prize was not where it was supposed to be. I limped into the Fantasy section only to discover that they didn't have a single paperback copy on the shelves. There were no empty spaces on the shelves so it's not like they sold out. Copies simply hadn't been stocked. I was a shocked. I was so looking forward to starting "Personal Demon" that I had to stare at the shelves for several minutes before it hit me that the book really wasn't there and no amount of wishing was going to make it appear. Eventually I just sighed, wandered over to the writing reference section, and left with a book about plot building.

By the time I hit the sidewalk again my foot was well on it's way to killing me. The pain was almost as bad as it was on the very first day. I was still able to walk, but it was slow going, and all I could think of was how much I wanted to get home.

On Wednesday the pain was just as bad. I had to wrap my foot and ankle before I went to work that morning, otherwise I don't think I would have been able to walk. Now, a smart person would take this as a signal to lay off the foot; to do as little walking as humanly possible while at work, and go directly home to rest it on a tower of pillows afterward. But...without "Personal Demon" I had nothing to read. Sure, I had my new writing book, but that's not exactly pleasure reading. I still had two of the three books I bought the week before sitting by my bed ready and willing to be cracked open, but they were both long and I didn't want to get involved in one of them and then have to wait till I was done to start reading "Personal Demon." With nothing to read, how would I entertain myself if I were to go straight home and rest my foot? That was the train of thought I was traveling when I decided to go over to the Barnes and Noble at Bay Plaza after work to see if they had copies in stock.

Naturally, while I was on the bus to Bay Plaza it started to rain. By the time I got off there was a steady drizzle coming down. It soaked my bandages as I wobbled my way down the two blocks to the store. Murphy's Law was in full effect when I finally got there and found that they did not have any copies in stock either. I felt deflated, and yes, I stared longingly at the spot on the shelf where the book should have been just as I had up in White Plains. When I was done with that I went and purchased three books I wasn't really all that interested in reading, but I felt like I had to buy something so the trip wouldn't be a total waste. By the time I got back home my foot was screaming at me again and I'd started to wonder if I'd be in any shape to go to Meghan's art opening the following night.

There was no way I could wimp out on the art show no matter how much my foot was hurting me. I think it is very important to support your friends in their creative endeavors. Getting an art gallery in New York to agree to exhibit your work is not easy. I had to to go and show my support for Meghan.

I made sure to stay off my foot all day. I kept my butt glued to my seat until it was time to leave. I took the 2 & 1 trains down to 23rd Street. During the ride I remembered that there was a Barnes and Noble on 22nd and Sixth Avenue, right across the street from my high school. I could run in, see if they had my book, and then head over to Tenth Avenue to the reception. I was happy. I was going to see a friend, I was gonna get to see original art work, my foot was feeling okay, and I had one more shot at getting my hands on my book before caving and just ordering it off of Amazon.

I got off the 1 on Seventh Avenue and walked over to Sixth. On my way I remembered the last time I'd visited a Barnes and Noble in the area. Several months prior I'd gone over to East Broadway to visit the store on Astor Place only to discover that it had closed. That was a really big store - two stories, big cafe, huge selection - I couldn't imagine why the moguls at HQ would close it. I hadn't been to the Barnes and Noble on 22nd in quite a while either and prayed that it hadn't closed in my absence as well.

As I turned the corner onto Sixth whatever latent belief I still harbored for the power of prayer disappeared as I came face to window with the gutted, empty store front where the Chelsea Barnes and Noble used to be. It was at this point that my search crossed the line from obsessive into ridiculous. Not only were books not where they were supposed to be, but now entire stores were disappearing! Mingled with my growing frustration was a hint if sadness. The Chelsea Barnes and Noble was where I had my entrance interview for Knox. Admissions counselor Jeff Clark met me outside my high school one afternoon and we went across the street to the bookstore and had a nice two hour chat in the Starbucks cafe on the second level. The next day in class my friend Justin told me he and his girlfriend Casey had actually been sitting at the table directly behind me during the interview. He thought I'd done really well, and I guess Jeff did too because I got in. For a third time, I looked longingly at the empty space where something I really wanted should have been, then I turned on my heel and walked over to 23rd Street to catch the cross town bus.

Meghan was already swamped by admirers when I arrived at the Prince Street Gallery. The only reason I was even able to spot her in the crowd was because she was a head taller than just about everyone in the room. Unlike Meghan's last show, this one was not a group exhibition. It was a full scale solo show. I slowly made my way around the gallery, taking the time to study each individual canvas. Though most of the work she does these days is abstract, when I looked at her new paintings I saw, through all the abstraction, hints of the old landscapes she used to paint. I recognized the Brooklyn Bridge, a view of the East River, and the roofs of old tenement apartment buildings hiding amidst all the abstract swirls. I saw the deep blue midnight sky lit up by the twinkle of electric lights seeping out the windows of residential towers. I saw the view of the City as captured from one of those windows. It was beautiful! And it was all so very Meghan!

I picked up a copy of the price list to see if I could afford to purchase anything. The answer was a resounding no. The cheapest piece was priced at $1500, the most expensive (and, granted, the best in the show) was priced at $8500. Never let it be said that Meghan Wilbar doesn't know what she's worth.

I had wanted to speak to Meghan, but her crowd of admirers never thinned. Not wanting to force my way in and interrupt anything, eventually I left without talking to her, promising myself I'd send her an email as soon as I got home.

I rode down in the elevator with Melanie Heineman. Despite having a slew of common friends, the two of us never officially met or spoke to one another while at Knox. But, as we got out of the elevator she looked at me and said, "Hey, didn't you go to Knox?" which launched us into a very pleasant and long overdue introductory conversation. We talked about our jobs, Meghan's art work, and New York in general. She said she was so surprised to see another Knoxian at the show that she had to talk to me, and I told her that's exactly how I felt last year when I saw Kim Ferguson Johnson at Sarah Lawrence. Melanie and her sister walked me to the bus stop before hailing a cab for themselves. I was really glad I got to talk to her. She was very sweet, and it was nice to actually interact with a person I've known only by face for the last ten years!

As I boarded the bus I noticed that my foot wasn't hurting so badly anymore. In fact, it felt fine, as if circling the gallery and strolling to and from the bus stop had stretched out and loosened up all the tense muscles. However, it wasn't until I descended into the subway station to catch the 1 train that I remembered the Barnes and Noble on 68th Street. The 1 train had a stop directly across the street from the store, and it was a huge one - open until midnight every night of the week. Still coasting on the feeling of contentment produced by good art, good conversation, and good physical health, I decided to make a stop at Lincoln Square. Surely that gigantic Barnes and Noble would have my book.

And, you know what? They did! They had all of three copies on display and I purchased one of them! I can't tell you how happy I was. After three pain filled days I'd finally crossed the finish line. I'd survived the trial and tribulations of my quest and been granted a boon, or something.

So, was the book worth the trouble? Aw, HELL YEAH! I finished reading "Personal Demon" this past Sunday and it was excellent. It had the single most gripping plot of the entire series and introduced a number of characters and complications that will undoubtedly have a huge effect on the series going forward.

As for my foot, it's still touch and go. I've been staying off it during the weekends, and the pain virtually disappears during that span of time but always flares up on Mondays when I have to start moving again. The pain isn't awful, but it's still pronounced. Mom says that if this keeps up for more than a month I should go see my doctor about it.

I have so many people I need to get in touch with. I need to find time to hang out with Meghan, Elisabeth, Monica, and James. I need to email Heather F., Miriam, and Adam. I need to get a hold of Matt because I'm going through withdrawal. All of this will actually be easier than usual because Greg has to work every weekend for the next month, so I'll have some free days to spend with my friends.