I recently got the opportunity to go to my second book signing. The signing was held at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Charlotte. Now you may be wondering how this came to be, well, I was doing my daily reading on my favorite blogger website, Ree Drummond "The Pioneer Woman", when I noticed that she was having a book signing in Charlotte for her new cookbook, and I had a thought...... since Rick and I had already planned a trip to King's Mountain National Military Park for the Ferguson Rifle demonstration, which meant driving through Charlotte, why not do both!
I was able to get off work 2 hours early, giving us time to get to Charlotte before the start of the signing at 6:00 pm. Those who know me well, know that I was running a few minutes late. We pulled into SouthPark Mall Shopping Center's parking lot at 6:20 p.m. At this time I was in a panic, worried that I missed the signing since I was late. I asked Rick to find a parking space as I jumped out of the car and ran to get a spot in line. 
This is where I jumped from the car and was runinng to get into the store. At first I was confused with the layout of the store and had gone the wrong way. I went to the right, there are no doors on the right side of the building. I had to turn around and walk back in front of the window, I tried to make it look like I had meant to do that, fooling anyone who may have seen me. Then I found the doors and entered the store.
Still in panic mode.
Once in the store I was immediately overwhelmed with the amount of people (could they really be here for the signing, or is there a great sale that I didn't know about). I just stood there for what seemed to be 10 minutes looking around. The look on my face must have been one of much confusing because a very nice Mom and her daughter, also there for the signing, explained to me what I needed to do.
First I needed to find the end of one of four lines that where surrounding the cashiers' center and buy the cookbook. Then the cashier would give me a ticket which I would need to have my cookbook signed. Ok, I can do that.
Which way do I go again?
Not too bad, I got my cookbooks.....I'm in group R, only 17 groups ahead of me. Now at this point any logical person would realize that this means a very long time. That's 17 groups, 20 people in each group with a unlimited number of books to be signed and photos to be taken. But for some reason I blocked all logic from my mind and just knew that my group would be called at any moment.
So while we waited, we looked at books and books and then even look at more books.
With so many people in the store waiting, all the chairs were filled and finding a place to sit was close to impossible, so I found a quite spot on the floor and sat and stared at my books, trying to will my group to be called.
Now, at 2 hours in, I begin to think a little more logically and calculate the time still remaining until I get my books signed. But then I kicked those thoughts out and just sat and waited, still staring at my books.
Hunger was sitting in...
Still waiting, I realize that we won't be able to get out of there in time to go out for the nice dinner I thought we could do, so instead we go over the to
bronte cafe in the bookstore. I ordered the Alpine Chicken Pasta entree. It was made with Parmesan and Fontina cheeses, roasted red peppers and chicken on penne pasta; it was delicious. But the whole time we were eating I was afraid we would miss our group. (The logical thinking was gone again, M was the group called when we went in for dinner, plenty of time to eat before Group R would be called).
It's late, most of the groups have left, I am stilling waiting for R to be called, and I finally get a chair.
What do I hear, can it be true....
"Group R will you please join us"
Yeah, it's time, I finally get to go up the steps and meet Ree and have my books signed. She was so nice and gracious. You could tell that she loves what she does and enjoys meeting and talking with everyone.
So what I thought would be a short trip off the interstate for a quick book signing turned into a 4 hour tour, a 4 hour tour.
By the time we were done most of the lights were out, what remained was the glow coming from inside the bookstore which had officially closed one and a half hours before we walked out.
Would I do it again, absolutely.
You may have noticed that I had two cookbooks in hand and wondered why two, she doesn't even cook, well the reason I went was to buy a birthday present. But once there and caught up in the excitement, I decided to get a cookbook also. (I may cook one day).
