The feels

Last night, I had an event at the libros bookstore in Lincoln Heights. It's in a charming neighborhood in LA right off Soto and the ten freeway on Broadway.  It is a small venue, but they do a lot with their space. 

They were able to accommodate the reading and musical performances and even had seating for most of the people who came by. The rest were standing. 

I got there in plenty of time. I left early so I could get some gas and chicken soft tacos at Del Taco. I usually loathe driving to LA, but it wasn't bad. Traffic was minimal and I listened to a podcast (listening to Marc Maron wax on about his crazy cat and whether he should add another cat to balance out the brood had me laughing out loud).

When I got to the bookstore, I saw some of my favorite people, musician and writer Laurie Markvart (get the audible version of her memoir here: https://www.amazon.com/Somewhere-Music-Ill-Find-Me/dp/B0CM9QL6XX), Hannah Sward, who wrote one of my favorite memoirs (titled Strip), and a few writers who I had never met but soundly admire, Christine Sneed (she read from one of her fabulous books that made me laugh out loud and I got her recent collection of short stories), as well as Jeremy Ray who writes amazing micro fiction and William Fox whose guitar playing will make you swoon. 

I was nervous before I went up. I was last. But I managed my nerves. It's gotten easier. I always think, hey if you can fight for someone in trial before a judge in a robe, you can perform your stories. I try to remember that everyone is there rooting me on. They want me to succeed. 

So I got up (after running to the restroom to pee right before, damn my nervous bladder) and read and finally found that vanishing point where I lost myself in the story. 

Up there reading about my high school days at a club. I felt as if I transported myself back in time for a moment. I was happy then sad and everything in between. I'd been listening to the song "Messy" on repeat by Lola Young earlier in the day and that helped along with the inspiring performances by my fellow performers. I love it when that happens. To get those feels, it's everything.