I miss Oklahoma. A LOT. And going home to do a reading was amazing…mostly because I got to see so many people I love and miss.

And I got to stay with Kent and Brenda Johnson, who are the coolest people in the world with the most fabulous garden (not to mention the best squirrel – Federica):

The reading was INTENSE. I had this surreal moment as I signed books where it occurred to me I was actually SIGNING BOOKS and it blew my mind.

Thank you for the posters, Erica! And for the flowers, Carla!

But the best part was having all the people I love around me supporting me…Thomas (who rocked the B&N on the electric guitar), Martha Weiss, Sarah Jacoby, Emily Johnson, Steve Sanders….my mom and dad… people I haven’t seen since high school….Kerrie Loyd and her extremely blond and gorgeous family….

The adorable Blakely

BFF Emo...Brooklyn in the house!

Other BFF Steve

High School buddy Nathan and his lovely lady Gracelynn

Steve, me and Kathryn Primus (who I haven't seen since Freshman year of HS and is still one of the coolest chicks I know!)

my new fave Hollywood couple: Terry and Teri

The gorgeous Loyd Clan

And I sold 85 books!

But even better than all that was seeing my father’s library at the bombing memorial…he donated his collection to the Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (which he helped found).   I’ve never actually seen the library until this trip.

But when I saw this, I cried:

My dad is the world’s leading expert on International Terrorism…he was researching, writing books and doing simulations when people still thought studying International Terrorism was a completely crazy endeavor…well, unfortunately, he proved them all wrong. But fortunately too…because his work is more important than anyone could have possibly imagined.

I'm still kind of crying...I'm really proud. But, ummm...where is MY book, pops?

view of the Memorial from the Insitute

the ceiling of the library, a memorial to those who have died in terrorist acts.

And not to brag too much…but his former students now populate the highest level of the FBI, CIA and government. The work he’s done has such a far reach…of course, it goes way beyond anything I could write here…and I will embarrass him if I write about it right now…a besides, I plan on doing a book with him. So more to come on that.

Then I took the Dane to the stockyards, which blew his mind…

I think he was expecting a “theme park”…but he found Oklahoma totally “authentic”. Of course it is…there aren’t many tourists who come to Oklahoma. The stockyards is the real deal.  And yeah, Cattleman’s is the best steak in America.

and no, we didn't do the lamb fries. I don't love my state enough to eat lamb testicles. Sorry, Oklahoma.

Danish Cowboy

And then we went to the Greyhound to head off to Memphis and meet Elvis….but more on that LATER!

pops, me and mom...wanna see the real Oklahoma? Hang at the greyhound station downtown.

OFF TO GRACELAND!!!!!!!!

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