down time

Meant to attend a symposium at NYU today, but got down there and basically turned around and came back home (after picking up some Indian food!).  Need some head space after a fairly full week.  I’ve just started reading Joseph Bruchac’s March Toward the Thunder, and on the 10th page there’s a list of Civil War battles: “Shiloh, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg.”  Then as I wove my way through Manhattan’s grid, I came up the block and saw a similar list of battles engraved on the wall of an old armory…In the story, Louis joins the Fighting 69th, and on the same day I start reading this novel, I pass by the 69th Regiment Armory…coincidence—or magic?  Came home and found these lovely letters from 3rd graders in Paterson, NJ:

One of the letters was especially sweet:

…your book was the greatest book I heard and sorry your brother got in jail.  I really like your story.  You is a nice women.  I hope your brother come to give you something and if you are hear tomorrow I will give you a wonderful present.  Take a guest.  It’s shiney and it’s betiful.  It is a neckless it’s betuful golden like the moon.  And I will like it if you will come again.  I will love it.

That fun visit was made possible by the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College (Bird won their Prize for Books for Young Readers last year).