Sunday, October 18, 2009

Road Trip Ramblings




We had a great time going to Atlanta for the booksigning there. It was at Charis Bookstore, the feminist bookstore in the tres hip Little Five Points area.I think they said that Charis is only one of a dozen feminist bookstores in the country now. Our nearby hotel, the Highland Inn, built in the 1920's, was definitely funky. It was a European style hotel reminding me of something out of Greenwich Village. The "suite" was only $125.00 a night. There were artsy prints on the walls, a shower only (not the shiniest one in the world, but passable) and a sink in the bedroom. Funky for sure. But I liked it because it was not your basic (reliable but predictable) hotel, motel, Holiday-Inn that you can find anywhere. They had a black mascot kitty there named Jack who they said eats better than anyone in Atlanta, eating the guests' and staff's leftover food from the fine area restaurants all within walking distance. Little Five points, where the bookstore is located, is super cool. The bookstore itself was purple, my fave. They were very hospitable. Charis has a 35-year birthday party coming up with Alice Walker, Gloria Steinham and the Indigo Girls. What a line-up!
Anyway, we had some great people come out. Some wonderful Georgia cousins and friends' of my dad's came. It was great to see them. Also, my ol' childhood buddy, Sandie, who I hadn't seen since we were teenagers. It was a little emotional because she had a hard time getting her baby, too- two failed IVF's and now an adoption to an adorable toddler who was with her. We all have our own stories! Great to see her after all these years. Also, Amy De Simone, another AFE survivor and board member of the newly launched AFE Foundation came and I got to meet her for the first time. She was able to give some valuable information to the group about amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) and I learned a couple of things that I did not know (and I did research for the book). One is that it is not uncommon for amniotic fluid to get in the mother's bloodstream. What is so rare and uncommon is the allergic reaction some women (like us) have to it which is usually fatal. The AFE foundation is going to fund the first known study of survivors to see if they can find a common thread. However, we are such an exclusive group- that there are only 35 survivors that they have found worldwide so far to participate in this study (I am one of the 35)! They would like to study 100 people for their stats. I hope to meet the founder, Miranda, soon too! (For more info visit www.afesupport.org) Anyway, it was great to meet Amy, and it definitely made singing the song, December 11, about my complication that much more intense knowing she was there and had gone through the same thing. It was a great group of folks though, and I so appreciated them coming out! Thanks to my husband Jim for his roadie work and little man wrangling during the reading, and thanks to Don Henry for making the trek to play with me!
We went to dinner afterwards but little man was so spent after a long night that he, um, let me know it was time to go. He is usually good in restaurants, but he was just done.
The next day we stopped in Chattanooga on the way home and visited the Tennessee Aquarium there which was very impressive. I think a highlight for our guy was seeing the deep sea divers in the tank swimming with fish and waving to him. Also the sharks were quite the sight. After going all the way through one of the two buildings he was tired and ready to leave. We came home and lit a fire to offest the cold that has set in and cuddled up with our kitties who were glad to see us. There's no place like home!

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Awww, sounds like a wonderful trip.
Great pics as well.
Welcome home!!!!

Mary Bernard said...

I have never heard of AFE, nor did I realize you were a survivor.

(gonna get my copy of the book soon! ;) )

mudmama said...

Thanks, Michele! Love your comments

Hi ya Mary- nice to see you here! Yeah, AFE is a crazy thing. Would LOVE for you to read it, thanks! :)

Brilliant Sulk said...

Sounds like you're having fun! Like Mary, I've never heard of AFE. It's incredible that one can even survive such a thing...

thais said...

Hi Lauren!I sent you an email about installing your awards - I will wait to hear from you, thx. thais :)

mudmama said...

Hi Amanda, yes it is a scary thing. I learned after having mine that it is up to 90% fatal! For anyone who wants to know more about the rare and highly fatal complication you can visit the afesupport.org website of the newly founded AFE Foundation.

Hi Thais! I am a spaz, and yes, I would so appreciate that help. Think I will work on a post about those awards now to get myself organized- thanks!!

Rebecca said...

We took Henry and Harper to the Tennessee Aquarium in January and then again in August. Leading up to our trip, we talked about the things we were looking forward to seeing again, and Harper (2 1/2) said she was most excited to see the "sea divers." The sight of them swimming in their dive suits, masks, and tanks had left quite an impression on her, I guess, and sure enough, she couldn't get enough of waving to them even the second time around. Me personally, I liked the sea life. But, hey. We haven't been to the Georgia Aquarium, but we've heard great things about it. Maybe the NEXT time you're in Atlanta.

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