How are all the Bookworms out there doing today?
Not so great? Well. I have something wonderful that will be sure to cheer you up. You’ve met my friend Chrissy before, haven’t you? In my more philosophical moments, I like to think that there’s a grand plan behind the way things work. There are people that are meant to be in your life, and it’s weird, because once you meet them, it feels like you’re already acquainted. I like to refer to Chrissy as my “butter churning sister from a past life,” because, you know, if we DID live lives before this one, we probably would have had to churn our own butter. I tell you this so you understand that she’s got a special place in my heart, and she had that WAY PRIOR to this story. (“Can’t Buy Me Love” and all that. The Beatles are always right.)
Remember once upon a time when I reviewed Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, otherwise known as The Great and Powerful Bloggess™? If you need to take a break and catch up, I’ll wait. You’re back? Wonderful. Suffice it to say that I’m a fan. I mean, Beyonce the giant metal chicken? The traveling red dress? She is a thousand kinds of awesome plus whipped cream plus a wine slushie and an order of fried pickles on the side.
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened was released in paperback recently (I own a Kindle copy of the original release) and to celebrate, The Great and Powerful Bloggess™ went on a book tour. One of the stops on the tour was in Chicagoland, which was fantastic news for Chrissy. It would have been great news for me too, but the event was on a Thursday. I had to work the following Friday, so making a 4 hour round trip journey wasn’t in the cards for me. Chrissy, of course, decided to go, and I was super excited for her and more than a tiny bit jealous. In fact, while she was waiting for the event to start, I did what anyone would do… I took a pathetic selfie and texted it to her so she’d feel guilty that I was missing out on the fun. Oh yeah. I’m THAT friend.
That’s my best puppy dog face. I only bust it out for serious guilt trips… And the occasional foot massage.
I got home from a ho-hum day to find a surprise package on my doorstep. I was most pleased to see that the return address was from Chrissy. I assumed she’d located a package of deeply discounted penguin greeting cards, or perhaps a thrift store Harlequin romance novel. I was FLABBERGASTED and DELIGHTED and OVERJOYED to find an autographed copy of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (with bonus chapter!) Chrissy used a few moments of her precious Bloggess face time to get ME a birthday gift! (I’m about to turn 30. It’s… Well. It is what it is. Presents take the edge off.)
Now, Chrissy can tell you her version of this story (I highly recommend you click HERE to read it), but the gist of it is this: Chrissy showed the Bloggess my selfie. The Bloggess KNOWS I EXIST! AND! She thinks I’m cute! Just read the inscription!
Can you hear me squealing through the computer?! It’s so LOUD!
Chrissy also inscribed her own message, of course. She likes to prove me wrong, see? I don’t like to write in books I give as gifts just in case the recipient decides to pass it on to someone else one day. (I’m not saying this happened, but MAYBE, just MAYBE at some point in my life I was the owner of a pocket sized illustrated version of the Kama Sutra… And said pocket sized edition would have made an excellent saucy bachelorette party gift, but my re-gifting attempt was THWARTED by a personalized inscription…That COMPLETELY HYPOTHETICAL situation would be totally frustrating, right?) Chrissy’s inscription basically told me that I’d probably hang on to this book. She always has to win, you know?!
Isn’t that the sweetest?! Couldn’t this story have ended RIGHT THERE and been the best thing ever? It could have, but it DIDN’T! Because Jenny Lawson is so super fantastic, she posed for a picture with Chrissy, putting her arm around an invisible ME. And Chrissy, having somehow learned how to photoshop things in a surprisingly respectable manner made me THIS:
Just let the awesomeness sink in for a minute… And do not question why I’m wearing a bridesmaid dress to a book signing.
It’s like I was actually there, only better. It’s better because my friend cared enough about me to blather incoherently to a famous person on my behalf. It’s better because Jenny has an incredible sense of humor and went along with the shenanigans. It’s the BEST because now I have my favorite thing in the world (a book) written by one of the people I admire most (The Bloggess) from one of my favorite people in the universe (including, but not limited to, all potential past lives.) And that, Bookworms, is how a book can be more than just a book.
Anybody out there have a story about a book inscription they’d like to share? I know not everyone’s story will be so full of superlatives and SHOUTY CAPITALS, but I’d love to hear them. Tell me something good, Worms.
therelentlessreader
This is all sorts of fabulous! What a great friend!! I would like to steal her please, thank you.
Words for Worms
You can’t steal her, but you can share 🙂
Quirky Chrissy
You know I love you more than my luggage.
CorrieP
Steel Magnolias! Whitey Black is a moron
Words for Worms
Cinderblocks, yo.
Quirky Chrissy
Also, I chose that picture because you totally had The Chrissy Face™ and looked ridiculously adorable. And The Bloggess doesn’t mind when you wear fancy dresses to meet her. See? An excellent choice on my part.
Words for Worms
True. Plus it’s a dark pink, which is close to red, which is sort of her signature.
CorrieP
My fabulous husband put up with me and my squealy sister later May to take us to a reading and signing by Jen Lancaster who is AMAZING! Also, was that signing Chrissy is at at Anderson’s bookstore in Naperville? Love that place!
Words for Worms
It is! I’m glad your husband endured your squealing. Squeals are the most genuine vocal expression of joy.
Quirky Chrissy
Yep. Anderson’s is awesome. I used to go to the one in Elmhurst because my high school English teacher worked there. Now I go to the one in Downers because it’s blocks from my home.
JoulesDellinger
You guys are so fabulous! And SEE CHRISSY — I TOTALLY kept that secret that you blabbed to me on IM. GROUP HUG! <3
Words for Worms
Joules, you KNEW about this? Awwww. Bring it in, girls!
Quirky Chrissy
Hahahahaha! I TOLD you that I told Joules a secret! :)*HUUUUUUG*
JoulesDellinger
LOL – I am a freaking VAULT of secret keeping! =P
Rhian
I don’t think anyone’s story can top yours. My best (only) book inscription story is that I went to see David Sedaris do a reading and I turned up early (by accident) and there he was, sitting in the lobby to sign books and there was only one couple at his table. When it was my turn we had a nice chat and he drew a picture of a dog in one book and a snail in the other.
Words for Worms
That is such a fantastic story! I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE David Sedaris! I would have geeked out and probably said nothing coherent. Awesome!
Jayne
What a wonderful friend! Isn’t it great to know you have people like that in your life?
Words for Worms
It makes the bad times better and the good times great, that’s for sure. 🙂
Leah
This is a great story, and you are super lucky to have such a wonderful friend!
Words for Worms
Thank you! I know. I must have done something really awesome in one of those past lives to be rewarded with a Chrissy in this one 🙂
Quirky Chrissy
That made me think of this. “Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could. So somewhere in my youth or childhood. I must have done something good.”
Words for Worms
Haaaaaaaaa! I had that in my head while writing this!!!!! GET OUT OF MY BRAIN!
Quirky Chrissy
Dude, I listen to Showtunes Radio. I hear that shit once a week.
Kelly
First, shouty capitals are the shizzle, and I totally promote their constant use.
Second, THIS IS AWESOME and your friend Chrissy is AMAZING!!!!
Words for Worms
I KNOW, RIGHT?! Seriously. So much excitement.
April
I loved reading this. Friendship is such an amazing gift, and when that gift, gifts!! Priceless… ok Chrissy is just priceless as it is… I was so excited for you! What an awesome start to an awesome decade…
Words for Worms
Oh yeah. Me and the dirty thirties are gonna rock it out. Christine may not yet be shouting this, but she’s only two months younger than me. Pretty much no way I’m going to be able to top this gift though. I’ll probably have to buy her gold encrusted cheese to even come close…
Quirky Chrissy
For the record, I’d totally rather have cheese than gold…but you don’t need to buy me anything!
Rhian
I’ve just realised what’s even funnier about the “photo” is that the expression on your face is *exactly* the expression you would have if you were sitting with THE BLOGGESS (squee!) with her arm around you. Or is that what’s meant by The Chrissy Face?
Words for Worms
Hahhaha I think that’s what she meant by The Chrissy Face!
Sarah Says Read
OMG your puppy face!!! 🙂
What an awesome friend!!! And a super cool author, and just overall a post full of fabulous.
Ummmm I don’t get stuff signed like ever because I live no where convenient, but my sis managed to get me a 20th edition of Outlander signed by Diana Gabaldon for my birthday last year! It’s signed “Happy 25th Birthday Sarah! – Diana Gabaldon” or something to that effect. Definitely one of the coolest things ever 😀
Oh and umm Happy Early Birthday! Cause I don’t know when that is, so just in case.
Words for Worms
Thanks! 🙂 That’s an AWESOME birthday gift from your sis and DG! Sweet!
lostinliterature108
1. 30?? You’re still a spring chicken. Happy Birthday!
2. I have a signed book- Arson by Estevan Vega. It reads…”Darlene, Dysfunctional is the New Normal”. (I like that).
C. I have the same thoughts as you about inscribing a book that I give as a gift. Mainly because I, myself, have kept books that I don’t love because someone I love wrote in it. HOWEVER, I learned/realized several years ago how precious it is to have something written in the actual handwriting of someone special. When I knew my husband’s grandmother was declining rapidly, I asked her to get a book for each child for Christmas that year and to write in it. My twin boys (who were one at the time) both got a hardback copy of Good Night Moon and my daughter got a hardback copy of The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh. All inscribed by Nannie. She has been gone several years now and those books are a treasure.
in a book that I give as a gift. I still do it but I am
Lyssapants
You have an awesome friend for life!
Me=way jealous.
Words for Worms
Thanks 🙂
Angie @Angela's Anxious Life
This is so fun. One time my husband’s family took a family picture and he photoshopped himself in. So fun!