Am I cool yet?

The Memphis trip has been great for many reasons, several of which revolve around the fact that I have never been cool (even though some people will say otherwise, but they are well-intentioned liars and also typically related to me).

But several things have happened to me in the last couple of days that have made me ponder my potential coolness.

They are as follows:
(in no particular order)

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor told me today that something I said yesterday really, truly resonated with her and that it’s going to have a major impact on her current work in progress. Yes, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor thought I was, if not cool, then at least not a complete ditz, so that’s a big one.

Also, last night I was able to attend a party at the cotton museum where I was called upon to use my covert skills to ascertain whether or not one of the museum employees was the junior high girlfriend of certain author who shall remain nameless. (She wasn’t.)

There was a moment during the conference when I actually had John Green believing that it was my butt on the Cheating at Solitaire cover. (In John’s defense, he is a happily-married guy who had not been looking at my butt so therefore didn’t have all the information.)

Several librarians (librarians rule!) told me today how Love You Kill You is never on the shelf for very long and then they all had oodles of questions about the sequel. If that’s not the definition of coolness, I frankly don’t know what is.

I was invited to cross state lines to gamble—an offer I declined, but it was nice being asked.

I got to meet some Gallagher Girls like Amanda, Taylor, Abby, Judy, Mary, Heather and several others whose names, sadly, have slipped my mind (because I am not a Gallagher Girl and am also quite forgetful.)

A very nice man guessed my age and he guessed ten years too young (and yes, I do love him.)

I got to eat ribs at Rendezvous which is where the Japanese Prime Minister ate and did an Elvis impersonation.

I was cool enough to eat at Rendezvous without doing an Elvis impersonation.

I got lots of great books autographed by really great authors.

And the final reason I feel temporarily cool is that tonight I will get to go to a party on Beale Street with E. Lockhart and Alex Sanchez. You can’t possibly be uncool on Beale Street with E. and Alex, can you?

I didn’t think so.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Ally