Finally met a Kennedy.

It was one of those once in a lifetime opportunities, that as much as I really didn't want to wait in a line for two-plus hours, I knew I had to just do it. Caroline Kennedy had a book signing at the Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue Tuesday for the book, "Listening In: The Secret White House Recordings of John F. Kennedy."

I've been fascinated for a long time with the JFK presidency, his death and his life — and the Kennedy family in general.

So I purchased a White Chocolate Mocha Latte, a Spinach/Cheese pretzel, and the book and got in line outside of the store.

When it was time to have my book signed, I had prepared what I was going to say, because it was going to be quick.

"Hi. It's nice meeting you. Thank you for being here."

Kind of lame and boring, but I wanted to be "polite." I can't really remember what she said to me. I think she said, "Nice to meet you too. Thank you."

Part of me has a feeling by her somewhat surprised face expression that when I said, "Thank you for being here," that she took it as "Bless the Gods that you were born." When I really meant, "Thank you for coming to do this book signing today." I guess such tragedy in one's life can take what I said as to meaning another thing.

Wendell Berry quote.

Finished a book I've had on my shelf for probably three years. It's called "Without Reservations: The travels of an independent woman," by Alice Steinbach. It's kind of like an "Eat, Pray, Love" but less about eating, praying and loving and more about the actual traveling, seeing and finding. On page 158 she quotes naturalist Wendell Berry:

"Always in the big woods when you leave familiar ground and step off alone into a new place, there will be, along with the feelings of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging of dread. It is the ancient fear of the Unknown, and it is your first bond with the wilderness you are going into."

Basically sums up how I felt leading up to and arriving in NYC. And I feel much better knowing that I wasn't the only one in the world feeling this way.