This one’s for you, Akeem

I was at Kingston’s new Indigo bookstore yesterday during the afternoon Christmas and Chanukah rush, smiling my local author’s heart out. I visited with friends, chatted with strangers, tried making eye contact, disappointed passersby with my ignorance of where the cookery books were… and then got to meet Akeem, a gent in search of a pen (I gave him a disappointing answer about that, too) but also a fan of Victorian polar disasters. Who knew? We shot the breeze about Franklin and his gallant crew, and the recent Ridley Scott made-for-TV confection, The Terror. Having shared a moment, we shared a photo, too. Thanks Akeem: you were the high point of my day. It was dope. I wish you, your new pen, and your beautiful journal some wonderful days ahead.