A very fine house

Sunny, mild, temps 16

Nice day - perfect spring day. young leaves on the trees here in Montreal. I'm just back from speaking to a meeting of school librarians. It's an annual meeting for them and they hold it in a school in north end Montreal. mA part mof the city I don't know. Thank God for GPS.

Had a fun time and they invited me to stay for lunch- catered by the adlut students studying the culinary arts. Yum.

Had loads of fun in the Laurentians the past couple of days. Drove the car to a new dealership to get the tires changed and tune-up. We have a BMW - a treat for Mihael when I signed the last contract. Nice car - though I wopuildn't recommend it. Really ridiculous computer system for everything. Not at all intuitie. Need 2 people to drive the car. Ugh. And the service at the place we bought it was atrocious. Don't expect that from a highend dealership.

So once lease is up we're giving it up - bersides with the environment a priority we'll give up the second car and downsize to something more responsible.

But we so hated the BMW service we called another dealership and they sounded nicer so we took the car in there Monday and they were fine. About time we changed the winter tires - now that leaves are on the trees and the daffs are up!

The we picked up the loaner and drove north into the mountains and Lac Manitou. I used to go there as a child. As we drove along the dirt road all sorts of memories flooded back...blueberry picking with my gradnfather, walking nwith him holding my hand and him reciting poetry. Reading in the bedroom as a child. Laughing so hard with my friend vicky while baking cookies for a boy we both had a crush on that we peed on the floor. First kiss, first dance, first broken heart. Through the grate in my bedroom I heard my parents decide to separate. Life. I think I became aware there, at Lac Manitou.

It was amazing to be back - and as something so far removed from the gawky, awkward, little girl. Something no one, least of all I, could have predicted. A successful novelist.

And yet, not so far. It still felt like home.

Stayed with the Vicky's parents, Gwen and Tuppy - and Vicky came from ottawa. We sat on the veranda overlooking the lake and had tea. Such fun to be there with Michael. Then had dinner, Monday night, and went to bed.

Their home is for me the quintessential country home. Wood and shingled and rambling, filled with regatta pennants and arts from generations, some accomplished some not much more than finger painting. It was calm and comforting and comfortable.

It felt magical. And Tuppy and Gwen, now well into their 80's, were gracious and warm - felt like my own parents. And Vicky and I giggled like school girls and took the dog for a walk in the rain.

Then next day, Tuesday, spoke to the Laurentian Club (an off-shoot from the Canadian Club)- about 100 people there - many I knew from childhood too. Who'd come to see little Louise Penny, all grown up. Bar Mussels was there. 92 years old. And Dune and Mary.

Felt so comfortable. In a career that sometimes doesn't feel comfortable, where the idea is to try new things, get out of the comfort zone. To meet strangers, and speak to large crowds...things that are comfortable are precious.

This was precious.

As was getting to share it with Michael. And now you.

Off to Washington tomorrow for Malice Domestic...not taking the laptop but will try to find a computer to blog on. If not, it will probably be next wednesday.

Be well.