(June 1, 2012) NEW YORK CITY and WILMINGTON, DE — Day 1 of the tour has reminded me how cool people are.
I started the day in Brooklyn with a final run to the post office, hoping that a few items I needed would come in time for me to take them with me. That didn’t happen. I told the clerks that from now on my friend would be collecting the mail and they all wished me well. For the record, the Sunset Park post office at 61st and 5th is staffed by wonderful people. They know me and what I’m doing and are always willing to go the extra mile.
Leaving the post office I kept swiping my MetroCard at the turnstile again and again and again. After 20 or so times it was still saying to swipe again, so I tried the next turnstile and it said “just used.” I have an unlimited card but I can use it just once every 18 minutes. But the guy behind me swiped me through, costing himself money. So cool.
Had a last lunch at Soy and Sake with a friend before boarding the 2 p.m. Greyhound to Wilmington, the first stop on the tour.
Got to Wilmington just about on time and with no trouble. Next was getting to my friend’s house using the DART bus. I got some change for the fare and asked the driver of the bus I thought I should be taking if I had the right bus. She said to take one that parked up ahead, but it left just as I started walking toward it. “Hop on, we’ll catch it!” said Shirl, the driver I was talking to. I hopped on and off we sped to catch the other bus. And catch it we did after a few blocks. Thank you!
Then it was a 15-minute bus ride, watching the map on my spacephone the entire way so I’d know where to get off. A short walk later and I arrived at my friend Jill’s house. She sings with the Industrial Jazz Group (interview) and with the band Hot Breakfast. When I arrived at her house, I found an Ace Frehley doll waiting on my bed. There’s no way Jill could have known this, but KISS was my favorite band as a kid because they were my older cousin Todd’s favorite band. I had two 8-tracks as a kid: KISS’s greatest hits and an album of Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops playing pop tunes.
Tonight I’m going to put together my poetry sets for my upcoming readings. Tomorrow, I’m interviewing guitarist Judith Kay here in Wilmington.
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