THE WINNIPEG READING

The day started off with a very early live TV appearance. The crew and Brian, the interviewer (and news anchor) were just great and we had loads of fun. Brian wanted to concentrate on the fact that Winnipeg had been my home so we talked a fair bit about this city of my youth and family.

I've noticed an interesting trend. When I did my US tour, a lot of people asked me about epilepsy, and my personal experience at the hospital. Of course. But now, the last few interviews have been about personal secrets - revealing them or not. I believe that if people can talk about experiences such as being a mental patient, or having a disease like epilepsy, it ultimately makes our lives much easier and even more importantly, demystifies these things and normalizes them more. So many of us have these secrets in our lives, and talking about them can definitely make our lives and those of others, much freer. So many people have confided to me that they too were in a mental hospital but nobody knew about it. And it is very freeing to tell someone about the experience.

So the Winnipeg reading. Why was this reading different than any other reading? Probably because it was Winnipeg, home to a huge family and loads of good friends. The book store has a lovely restaurant in one corner, and the evening started off with dinner there first. There were about fourteen at our table, another table of eight of my cousins and tons more tables of friends and relatives who had come to the reading.

The reading itself was very successful. John the event organizer, told me that they usually had 30 - 40 people at a reading. I had more than twice that number there, and he said it was one of their largest ever. I was quite honoured. I have to admit it was a very special feeling to read looking over an audience of relatives and old friends. Even my basketball team (from the 1960's) was out in full force and seeing their faces there was just so great!

My relatives are particularly very special and I feel so privileged to be part of this family. They couldn't possibly be more supportive than they are and their love just permeates the room. It was quite the high. After the reading was over, and I had signed the bulk of the books I was to sign, my Uncle Abe came over to me. He very tenderly cradled my face in his hands, gave me a gentle kiss and said: "I am so proud of you, sweetheart." Those words were music to my ears, they meant everything to me. "I am so proud of you, sweetheart." He was the emissary from my parents and all my other relatives who had gone before. I thought my heart might burst with pride and love. Things did turn out all right after all.

It was a most wonderful beginning to my Canadian book tour. We're off to a good start.