Part 80: An incredible surprise

On a really awful day

23 years since nearly 3,000 people were killed by terrorists hellbent on destroying our country, September 11 remains an awful day for me and millions of others.

I recall every moment of it. Where I was (in my basement office), what I was doing (writing the copy for the launch of AOL 7 - yes, I am a dinosaur), my baby brother’s phone call telling me to “turn the TV on now, dammit,” my younger son, Mr. Rugby, just three years-old, clinging to my leg as my late husband and I watched, crying, in the living room. I’ve been deeply pained and heartsick by every 9/11 since, today included.

But then, just a short while ago, something really wonderful and completely unexpected and beyond thrilling happened and I simply have to share it.

I received this in my in-box:

Nick Hornby has subscribed to my Substack!

I LOVE Nick Hornby. The author of, to name just a few, About a Boy, High Fidelity, How to Be Good, Funny Girl, and A Long Way Down (one of my FAVORITE books of all time!), Nick Hornby is a writer and a screenwriter of immense and immeasurable talent. (Yes, I am still squiggling with joy at the notification.)

I can’t even believe it, honestly.

Of course he probably subscribed to be polite, after all I subscribe to HIS Substack and it is soooo quirky and smart and funny and in today’s edition he shared a story of once having given Kurt Vonnegut a light for his cigarette. God in Heaven. Kurt Vonnegut! And people say smoking is bad. Nonsense!!!

Yes, I still miss smoking and now I vape but so does Nick. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll get to meet him and he’ll say, “Damn, I want to vape but my battery is low,” and I’ll say, “Here, let me charge it for you!” and we’ll be friends. Friends. With Nick Hornby.

Hey, it could happen. I certainly didn’t expect this day, of all days, to suddenly be blessed with such a silver lining. But surprise, beautiful surprise. It was. Thank you, Nick.

And thank you, my family and friends, for being here so I could share this really cool news with you.

Now go and check out Nick’s Substack and his books. You’ll thank me.

xo