Philadelphia Story, or, Worlds Collide
June 23rd, 2006 | Uncategorized
Thursday I took the train from the nondescript underground remnants of Penn Station, where they were holding some kind of surreal “security expo” with bomb-sniffing dogs, to the glorious 30th St. Station in Philadelphia. See illustration.
I then proceeded to a handsome suburb called Mount Airy, which appeared to be populated solely by lesbian couples with children. At any rate, I never saw so many in one place before in my life. I signed books at The Big Blue Marble, a new independent bookstore in the neighborhood. Here’s Sheila, the owner.
And here’s Nava, a charming queerspawn poet who works there.
After hanging out and signing books there for a while, it was on to the august Giovanni’s Room, back in the city. I was expecting this to be another “meet and greet,” where I sit and sign peoples’ books and talk one-on-one to them. But there was a bit of a mix-up, and I walked into a room where thirty or forty people sat expectantly in rows facing one lone chair, as if for a reading. And of course you can’t just do a reading from a graphic novel. And I hadn’t prepared anything to say to a group. It was a rather nightmarish moment for an introvert, but somehow I rallied and we managed to have an interesting, intimate Q & A session.
THEN I scarfed down some food in the car while being driven to another august institution, the Philadelphia Free Library.
I was part of their reading series. They had a really nice auditorium that even had a dressing room backstage, lined with portraits of authors. Here I am in it, pretty well fried by now.
Fortunately the lovely librarian who was going to introduce me gave me some kind of zen slap to the back of the neck that she promised would give me twenty minutes of energy. I think it worked. As I looked back to scan the crowd before going onstage, I saw my Aunt Jane come in–that’s her in the green sweater in the rear right. She’s my dad’s sister.
I’ve never done a reading from the book with any family members present, and it was pretty intense. It felt much more emotional. Of course I’m worried some of my family will be hurt or angry about the book. But afterward, Aunt Jane gave me a big hug and said she was proud of me. It was really wonderful. Here we are together. I was named after Aunt Jane–Jane is my middle name. Also, she bought me a baseball bat and my first pair of boys’ sneakers when I was little. She’s utterly awesome.
And then there was still this big long line of people waiting patiently for me to sign their books while I was yacking to Aunt Jane and my dad’s cousin and her husband and daughter.
Anyhow. It was quite a day. I’m ready for the sensory deprivation tank.
15 Responses to “Philadelphia Story, or, Worlds Collide”
beautiful pic of you and Aunt Jane. and love the 30th St station mis en scene.
Some of the questions after your Free Library reading were a bit odd (“Are you mainly the narrator of “Fun Home? ” !!!!!) and you handled them with aplomb. Your tour is in the home stretch and you’re doing great!
t
Just curious…when are you coming back to the bay area? Comic Relief has been sold out of yer book for weeks now…
Thank you again for coming to Giovanni’s room and talking to us! It was such a pleasure to meet you. And of course, thank you for signing both of my books (Fun Home and Indelible. You Rock!
Alison, I am so glad you got to spend some time with your lovely Aunt Jane. It feels so darn good when family loves us and completely understands us doesn’t it? I hope I look as good as her when I am that age! When do you get to relax and kick back at home for a bit? You have been going almost nonstop for quite awhile now.
is your aunt jane the same aunt mentioned in one of the Indelible DTWOF strips? the one who you hadn’t come out to (in that strip) but who knew all along and was great?
… anyway that is so great she came to the reading. the photo of you two together is lovely. you look really relaxed and happy in a quiet way, or maybe that is just exhausted. I hope you get to get some rest REAL soon.
Emily (ardent L.A. fan – friend of the woman who knows susan stinson)
Alison,
It was so nice to meet you in person and to hear your voice. Your drawings have a different feel on the big screen. I liked seeing them that way. Your presentation was wonderful..no one would have surmised it was your third stop of the day.
Your response to questions was so considered and authentic…like your book. Interesting too, in light of family members being present…
Someone asked Alison how her family members were responding to the book and she answered in a complex way…about some sense of betraying intimacies shared by her mom…and general thoughts about telling family secrets…but also that she was originally writing this for solely for herself, and then perhaps with the thought that only her extended dtwof family would read it and it would be okay for them to know these things and then…suddenly…it took on a life of its own and …whew…Entertainment Weekly! etc.
So, Alison Bechdel readers, groupies, hangers-on, friends, fans…if she comes to your town, go see her present…it was fun.
Soozie
damn it, i wish it had occured to me to check the tour dates. i would have loved to hear you read if i’d know you were in philadelphia…
Alison, what a thrill to see myself on the Blog! I’m also really tickled that four of our friends who couldn’t make our during-the-workday signing are shown in the audience at the Free Library. Thanks for coming to our little neighborhood bookstore and we hope to welcome you back. It was a wonderful event for us and a real boost all around.
BTW, your Aunt Jane looks like she’s having a great time.
Fellow fans, I notice that Baker and Taylor (major book supplier) is out of stock of the book. If you’re looking for a copy, try calling up one of the independent stores Alison has visited. Most of us will still have signed stock and will happily send one to you. –Sheila
Alison Bechdel Visits Philadelphia with Fun Home
Last night I had the huge pleasure of attending a book signing and reading for Alison Bechdel’s book Fun Home. For those of you unfamiliar with her work, Alison is the author of the superb comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For . The comic strip ha…
Alison –
My partner and I were the first in line when you signed books at the Big Blue Marble. Thank you so much for visiting! (And yes, Mt. Airy really is lesbian mom central. Four out of the 15 kids in our son’s preschool class have 2 moms. And it’s a great place to live besides!)
Anyway, I just finished _Fun House_ and I really loved it. I am so impressed by the way you take on so much complexity at once and sort through it bit by bit, somehow retaining the depth and mystery even as you open it up. This book is going to stick with me for a long time.
Also: my father is from very near your hometown (near Black Moshannon State Park, and he’s a graduate of Bald Eagle High School – like loads & loads of my relatives). Although I grew up elsewhere, I have visited the Bald Eagle Mountain area several times a year for my entire life, and I know rt. 150 well. I really can’t tell you how shocked I was to know that you grew up there. Of course, you had to grow up somewhere, but I am not used to thinking of that area in conjunction with anything gay or lesbian. I was there for a visit (wife and son with me, of course) only a few days before you cane to Mt. Airy. I know I’ll never see the area the same way again.
Many thanks for all of your work in the world, and for sharing your story so bravely and intelligently.
Barbara
You were, of course, fab – as was your Aunt Jane. I was your MC at the Free Library. That was qigong which gave you a wee bit of a boost. You responded quite well to emergency qi(chi) work and might consider accupunture to get your energy back when the travelling roadshow is done. Accupunture would likely ease your drawing arm as well. Qigong is the basis of all traditional Chinese medicine- billions of Chinese can’t be wrong. It is what reiki wishes it was.
I’m still thinking about DTWOF items to sell. Mo’s shirt- with or without “librarian” or “literate” on it, pot-luck cookbook – or disquising prepared foods to look home-made, a book of haircuts, your alphabet poster re-made into blocks or a book.
Thanks for your genius & graciousness. You are a Lesbian National Treasure. xxxAnne
hey, that’s a pic of me and my friends. you didn’t get our permission!
Scared Money Ringtone
The Longest Line Ringtone The Longest Line Ringtone Simply Ringtone Simply Ringtone Too Much Of You Ringtone Too Much Of You Ringtone Daughters Down Ringtone Daughters Down Ringtone I Was Made That Way Ringtone I Was Made That Way Ringtone Girls amp Bo…
primo wheel chair tire
Cool.